A court in Alberta province in Canada has issued a verdict that says if the families of the victims of the September eleven attack on New York are able to find Iranian assets in Alberta, those assets, up to $7.1 billion, can be seized to compensate the families.

Edmonton newspaper reported that this decision is in accordance with the “Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act” which was passed in 2012 by the previous government of Canada. According to this law, even foreign victims of terrorism can demand compensation from Canadian courts, even if the crime was not committed on Canadian soil.

The original default judgment was handed down in New York in October 2012. According to that verdict, Iran had cooperated with Al Qaeda organization and trained Al Qaeda members for the September 11 attacks.

There are other precedents to this ruling in Canada. In Ontario province in 2016, a court ruled that $13 million of Iran’s non-diplomatic assets can be paid as compensation to families of the victims of terrorist attacks that Iran has played a role in them.

Among these attacks is the explosion at the US Marines base in Lebanon which led to the death of 241 American forces and dozens of French forces. Based on a surveillance audio tape of Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, Iran’s ambassador to Damascus at the time, in which he admits to Iran’s involvement, a court in the United States condemned Iran to pay $2.6 billion in compensation.

Iran has never recognized the authority of these courts and does not send any representatives to attend these trials.