U.S. Court Finds Iran Liable in Kidnap and Torture of Lebanese American Man, Amer Fakhoury

After a grueling four-year pursuit of justice, a U.S. court has ruled in favor of the family of Amer Fakhoury, a Lebanese American man who was held hostage in Lebanon. The court determined that the Islamic Republic of Iran, operating through its proxy, Hezbollah, bears responsibility for Fakhoury’s abduction and torture.

Amer Fakhoury’s daughters, Guila and Zoya Fakhoury, shared with Fox News Digital that a U.S. District Court judge issued the ruling on May 1, holding Iran accountable for Fakhoury’s imprisonment. Guila emphasized the significance of the lawsuit, stating that it marks the first instance where Iran’s influence over Lebanon has been legally proven. "We were very happy about the judgment," she said, expressing the family’s relief and satisfaction.

The case garnered attention with the release of a book titled "’HOSTAGE IN LEBANON:’ NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILY RECOUNTS FATHER’S DETAINMENT, TORTURE IN NEW BOOK," shedding light on the harrowing experience Fakhoury endured.

The ordeal began in September 2019 when Amer Fakhoury traveled to Lebanon with his family. A week after their arrival, he was arrested. A newspaper with ties to Hezbollah alleged that Fakhoury, a former member of the South Lebanon Army, was the "butcher" of Khiam, a detention center notorious for its grave human rights abuses.

Despite being released from a military prison in December 2019, Fakhoury’s freedom was short-lived. It wasn’t until March 2020, when the Lebanese Supreme Court dropped the charges against him, that he was able to return to the United States. By then, his health had severely deteriorated. He had lost 60 pounds and was suffering from late-stage lymphoma, along with rib fractures and other health complications. Tragically, he passed away in September 2020 at the age of 57.

The Fakhoury family faced a challenging battle in proving the extent of Amer’s suffering and torture. Guila acknowledged that the State Department’s classification of her father as a hostage played a crucial role in establishing the nature of his captivity.

However, demonstrating Iran’s involvement in the imprisonment proved to be an even greater hurdle. Guila recounted that some people "kind of laughed" when the family pointed the finger at Iran for her father’s mistreatment. Zoya added that "Iran’s influence in Lebanon in recent years further proves our point."

Because Iran never responded to the suit, the family was compelled to present evidence of Hezbollah’s control over "every government agency in Lebanon," including the military hospital, military court, and the Lebanese General Directorate of General Security, the country’s intelligence apparatus that Guila said arrested and tortured Fakhoury.

Even after the Lebanese judicial system exonerated Fakhoury of the false charges of being a killer, a terrorist, and an Israeli agent, officials reportedly told him that they had to keep him detained "because Hezbollah wants [him] in prison."

The Fakhoury family encountered obstacles even before initiating their legal proceedings in May 2021. Zoya revealed that Hezbollah officials in Lebanon had been issuing threats to the family since Fakhoury’s death. In addition to Iran’s failure to respond to the lawsuit, Guila stated that Lebanese General Directorate of General Security officials interfered with the lawsuit by asking to have their names and agencies removed. The judge denied the request.

The lengthy periods of silence from the court further compounded the family’s ordeal. "The last four years, we were fearful," Zoya explained. "We were worried maybe nothing’s going to come out of this."

While the family is appreciative of the judgment they received, Guila expressed their belief that the settlement awarded through the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act was "a bit of an unfair decision" and did not "take into account the pain and the suffering of the family."

Despite their concerns regarding the settlement amount, the landmark judgment holds significant promise for others seeking justice. "We’re hoping, with this administration, to use the judgment that we have and the work that we’ve been doing in the [Amer] Foundation to continue the accountability efforts," Guila said.

Zoya added, "A lot of other Lebanese citizens [and] American citizens that have been targeted by the Lebanese government, by Hezbollah in Lebanon, can now use this case to get justice for what happened to them."

The sisters outlined their next steps, which include advocating for sanctions against "officials in Lebanon who were traitors and working with Hezbollah and Iran." They plan to request the State Department to take action against these individuals. The family remains dedicated to pursuing justice for their father and ensuring that others who have suffered similar injustices have a pathway to seek redress.