After nearly four years of a thorough judicial process, a US court has determined that Lebanese-American families were victims of hostage-taking in Lebanon. It also ruled that Iran, through its association with Hezbollah, should be held accountable for the treatment of Amer Fakhoury. His daughters, Guila and Zoya, plan to speak to Fox News Digital on May 1 about the case. The judge’s ruling asserts Iran’s responsibility for Fakhoury’s imprisonment.
“This is the first lawsuit that really highlights Iran’s influence in Lebanon,” Gira remarked. “We’re truly grateful for the judgment.”
Amer Fakhoury, a businessman, was arrested shortly after a family visit to Lebanon in September 2019. Following his arrest, a Hezbollah-linked newspaper labeled him as “the butcher” of Khiam due to his previous ties with the Southern Lebanese Army. While he was released from military prison in December 2019, he could only return to the US after charges against him were dismissed by the Lebanese Supreme Court in March 2020. Sadly, he passed away in September 2020, at 57.
The family faced immense challenges in proving Fakhoury’s suffering and torture. Gira mentioned that the State Department’s classification of Fakhoury as a hostage played a crucial role in validating his status as a prisoner of war.
Proving Iran’s involvement in his imprisonment turned out to be even more difficult. Gira said they criticized Iran for their father’s treatment, while Zoya noted that “Iran’s growing influence in Lebanon recently only confirms our perspective.” As Iran did not respond to the legal claims, the family had to gather evidence highlighting how their father witnessed Iran’s control over various Lebanese governmental branches, including military courts and the Hezbollah-run military hospitals.
Despite the Lebanese judicial system eventually clearing Fakhoury of numerous false charges, Gira pointed out that Hezbollah had intended to keep him imprisoned for his safety. The family faced threats from Hezbollah officials even prior to filing their lawsuit in May 2021, with Zoya stating they had felt endangered since their father’s death. Additionally, the Lebanese General Security Directorate allegedly impeded their legal efforts by seeking to remove critical details from the case. Fortunately, the judge rejected their request.
Throughout this lengthy ordeal, Zoya expressed a sense of fear and uncertainty. “We’ve been on edge for four years,” she shared, explaining their concerns that justice might never be achieved.
While the family appreciates the ruling, Gira voiced that the resolution obtained under the foreign sovereign immunity law felt rather minimal and “didn’t acknowledge the family’s suffering adequately.”
They believe this landmark ruling can aid others in their pursuit of justice. “We aim to leverage the judgments achieved and collaborate with the current administration. We hope to assist American citizens targeted by Hezbollah in Lebanon to seek justice,” Zoya clarified.
The sisters feel that the next steps involve holding accountable Lebanese officials who collaborated with Hezbollah and Iran.
