Middle East Librarians Association

Lawsuit against the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the Treasury Department

Background: “The Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") of the US Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign
countries, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, and those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.” (from the OFAC website).

Recent action: The Association of American University Presses, Pen American Center, and Arcade Publishing filing a lawsuit against OFAC to remove regulations requiring “publishers and authors to seek a license from the government to perform the routine activities necessary to publish foreign literature from embargoed countries such as Iran, Cuba, and Sudan in the United States” (AAUP Press Release, Sept. 27, 2004; http://www.aaupnet.org/ofac/release.html) . On April 29th, 2004: OFAC regulations against Libya changed so that most activities are now legal, including performing services for Libyans and the Libyan government.

This leaves Iran and Sudan as countries still within the regulations.

For more information: Documentation relating to the lawsuit can be found on the AAUPnet web site.

For text of the regulations see the OFAC website.