American hostage family securces groundbreaking judgement against Iran due to involvement in hostage's captivity and torture in Lebanon.
Headline: Lawsuit bags Iran for conspiring in the kidnap and torture of a Lebanese-American man
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In a long-awaited justice move, a U.S. court has belted out a decision in favor of the family of a detainee held captive in Lebanon. The court has found that Iran, working through its proxy Hezbollah, is accountable for abducting and torturing the man.
Talking to our digital outlet, Guila and Zoya Fakhoury, daughters of the victim, shared that on May 1, a U.S. District Court judge held Iran responsible for the ordeal of their father, Amer Fakhoury.
"This verdict demonstrates Iran's influence over Lebanon," Guila pointed out. "We're elated with the ruling."
*'HOSTAGE IN LEBANON:' NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILY RECALLS FATHER'S DETENTION, TORTURE IN NEW BOOK**
During President Trump's tenure, his administration lent a hand in securing the release of New Hampshire businessman Amer Fakhoury[3].
Fakhoury was nabbed just a week after traveling to Lebanon with his family in September 2019. Following his arrest, a local newspaper tied to Hezbollah insinuated that Fakhoury, a former member of the South Lebanon Army, had been the "butcher" of Khiam, a grievous detention center where atrocious human rights violations were alleged[4].
Although he was set free from a military prison in December 2019, it was only after the Lebanese Supreme Court dropped charges against Fakhoury in March 2020 that he was able to make it back to the U.S. By the time of his return, Fakhoury had shed 60 pounds and was battling late-stage lymphoma, along with broken ribs and other health complications. He passed away in September 2020 at the age of 57.
The fight for justice has been arduous for the family, especially when it came to proving Fakhoury's suffering and torture. Guila, however, notes that the U.S. State Department's classification of Fakhoury as a hostage was instrumental in establishing the nature of his captivity.
Proving that Iran was behind the imprisonment was more challenging. "People laughed when we blamed Iran for our father's mistreatment," Zoya admitted. But she adds that Iran's influence over the Lebanese government in recent years sheds light on their claim.
Since Iran opted not to respond to the suit, Guila explained that the family was required to provide evidence showing Hezbollah's control over various government agencies in Lebanon, including the military hospital, military court, and the Lebanese General Directorate of General Security, the country's intelligence apparatus. Guila recalls that Hezbollah officials arrested and mistreated Fakhoury.
Even though the Lebanese judicial system cleared Fakhoury of fabricated charges that he was a murderer, terrorist, and Israeli spy[5], Guila stated that officials informed Fakhoury that they had to keep him "because Hezbollah wants him in prison."
The family faced obstacles even before filing their case in May 2021. Zoya disclosed that Hezbollah officials in Lebanon have been issuing threats to the family since Fakhoury's demise. In addition to Iran's absence in the suit, Lebanese General Directorate of General Security officials meddled with the lawsuit by asking to have their names and agencies expunged, a request that the judge refused.
long pauses from the court made the wait for justice grueling, Zoya claims. "We've been fearful for the past four years," she admitted. "We were unsure if justice would ever come our way."
Despite the family's dissatisfaction with the settlement awarded under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, they are hopeful that this landmark verdict will pave the way for others to find justice[6]. "We're optimistic that, collaborating with this administration, we can utilize this judgment and the efforts we've made at the [Amer] Foundation to continue accountability endeavors," Guila declared. "Numerous other Lebanese citizens and American citizens who have faced targeting by the Lebanese government and Hezbollah in Lebanon can now employ this case to seek justice for what they've endured," Zoya explained.
The sisters shared their next steps will involve petitioning the State Department to impose sanctions on officials in Lebanon who colluded with Hezbollah and Iran.
Beth Bailey, a reporter covering Afghanistan, the Middle East, Asia, and Central America, has been following the criminal case. She was previously a civilian intelligence analyst with the Department of the Army. You can connect with Beth on Twitter @BWBailey85.
[1] Source: Lawyer for Amer Fakhoury family shares details on $1bn lawsuit against Iran[2] Source: U.S. court finds Iran, Hezbollah liable for kidnapping U.S. citizen[3] Source: How the U.S. government helped secure the release of a New Hampshire businessman who was brutally tortured in Lebanon[4] Source: Amer Fakhoury: My ordeal as a 'prisoner of war'[5] Source: Amer Fakhoury: The Lebanese court has ruled that I am innocent on all charges[6] Source: Family of Amer Fakhoury, held captive in Lebanon, reaches landmark settlement with Iran
- The recent verdict that found Iran liable for kidnapping and torturing a Lebanese-American man highlights the fact that Iran holds significant influence over Lebanon's politics.
- In a situation that is not uncommon in the world of war-and-conflicts, the family of the victim faced challenges in proving that Iran was behind his imprisonment and torture.
- The lawsuit against Iran involved providing evidence of Hezbollah's control over various government agencies in Lebanon, including the military hospital, military court, and the Lebanese General Directorate of General Security.
- Despite Hezbollah's influence over the Lebanese government and the obstacles faced during the legal process, the family of the victim remains optimistic that this landmark verdict will pave the way for others to find justice in similar situations.
- Recognizing the importance of accountability, the family plans to petition the State Department to impose sanctions on officials in Lebanon who colluded with Hezbollah and Iran.
- The sisters' efforts towards accountability are crucial, as their case serves as a guiding fact for other Lebanese citizens and American citizens who have faced targeting by the Lebanese government and Hezbollah in Lebanon to seek justice for what they've endured.
