Latest news with #Fakhoury
L'Orient-Le Jour
08-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Amer Fakhoury case: US court condemns Iran and Hezbollah
The family of Amer Fakhoury, who died five years ago and was detained between 2019 and 2020 in Lebanon due to his past in the South Lebanon Army (SLA), an Israeli-backed militia during the Israeli occupation of south Lebanon, announced on the X account of the "Amer Foundation" that they "won a historic case against Iran." "The Fakhoury family won a historic case against Iran, proving for the first time that this country, through Hezbollah, illegally occupies Lebanon," it said. Fakhoury was a former militia member of the SLA who was accused of murders, attempted murders, kidnappings and torture starting in 1985. He was arrested on his arrival in Lebanon on Sept. 12, 2019, under public pressure, notably from former prisoners of Khiam prison – located in the buffer zone occupied by Israel until 2000 – in south Lebanon, where he had once been the commander. In 1996, he was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for collaboration with Israel. Believing himself covered by the statute of limitations, Fakhoury, who had become a naturalized American, returned to Lebanon in 2019, not expecting Lebanese authorities to apprehend him for other crimes such as the torture and death of former detainees or the alleged acquisition of Israeli nationality. In March 2020, the military court decided to release him after dropping torture charges against prisoners at Khiam prison. Stricken with cancer, his health had deteriorated in prison in Lebanon. He eventually left Lebanese territory on March 19, 2020, despite calls for him to be tried, which led U.S. President Donald Trump, then in his first term, to express gratitude towards the Lebanese government. The former militia member was transported by a U.S. Navy transport aircraft that landed at the U.S. embassy in Awkar, north of Beirut. The Hezbollah parliamentary bloc protested at that time and demanded that the judges who made this decision, "having yielded to the pressures of countries sponsoring and supporting the enemies" of Lebanon, "be held accountable and judged." Fakhoury did not survive long after his detention in Lebanon, passing away in September 2020 at the age of 57. His family has always maintained that he was a victim of torture during his detention in Lebanese prisons. Compensation of nearly $8 million The judgment condemning Iran and Hezbollah in this case was rendered by the federal court of Columbia (United States District Court of Columbia) in Washington on May 1, 2025, following a complaint filed in 2021 by the daughters of Fakhoury, Amanda and Guila, against the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanese General Security. The American judge ordered the payment of compensation totaling nearly $7.75 million for all of Fakhoury's heirs ($2.11 million), his widow Micheline Elias ($1.4 million), and his children ($4.277 million), stating that Fakhoury's detention and the treatments he underwent, based on his wife's testimony, who was with him in Lebanon, led to the deterioration of his health and then his death. The judgment also establishes the qualification of "hostage" to describe Fakhoury's detention in Lebanon. "This case revealed how Hezbollah, backed by Iran, fabricated lies to illegally detain Amer Fakhoury – an innocent man – and demonstrated Iran's ongoing interference in Lebanese institutions, particularly the Lebanese General Security, which was led by Abbas Ibrahim at the time of Amer's abduction," the family's statement said. Speaking to Fox News, his daughter Guila said that "the past four years have been long and difficult," referring to threats targeting her family, moments of discouragement, and the difficulty of "proving that Iran is behind all this, due to its grip on Lebanon." Several American media outlets have reported this information. In Lebanon, it is noted that it is mainly anti-Hezbollah media and internet users who have amplified this news. The links between the military court and Hezbollah's influence have often been criticized by opponents of the party, as exemplified by the case of the Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney, killed in South Lebanon in 2022, whose alleged murderer, a Hezbollah member, was released by this same court.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Family of American hostage tortured in Lebanon wins landmark case against Iran
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways After a nearly four-year search for justice, a U.S. court has found in favor of the family of a Lebanese American man held hostage in Lebanon, finding that the Islamic Republic of Iran, working through its proxy Hezbollah, should be held liable for their father's kidnap and torture. Two of Amer Fakhoury's daughters, Guila and Zoya Fakhoury, told Fox News Digital that on May 1, a U.S. District Court judge found Iran responsible for Fakhoury's imprisonment. "This is the first lawsuit to prove Iran's influence over Lebanon," Guila said. "We were very happy about the judgment." 'Hostage In Lebanon:' New Hampshire Family Recounts Father's Detainment, Torture In New Book Amer Fakhoury was arrested a week after traveling to Lebanon with his family in September 2019. After his arrest, a newspaper linked with Hezbollah alleged that Fakhoury, formerly a member of the South Lebanon Army, had been the "butcher" of Khiam, a detention center where grave human rights abuses were reported to have taken place. Though he was released 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 return to the U.S. By the time of his return, Fakhoury had lost 60 pounds and was suffering from late-stage lymphoma, along with rib fractures and other health complications. He died in September 2020 at the age of 57. Read On The Fox News App Proving Fakhoury's suffering and torture was a battle for the family, though Guila said the State Department's classification of her father as a hostage was instrumental in proving the nature of Fakhoury's captivity. Sens. Cruz, Shaheen Propose Sanctions Against Lebanese Offiicals Over American Prisoner Proving that Iran was behind the imprisonment was more difficult. In fact, while Guila said some people "kind of laughed" that the family blamed Iran for their father's mistreatment, Zoya said "Iran's influence in Lebanon in recent years further proves our point." Because Iran never responded to the suit, Guila said the family was forced to provide evidence her father witnessed 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. In Beirut, an arch glorifying Hezbollah and Iran's leader Ali Khamenei, and people gather outside a hospital after the arrival of several men wounded by exploding handheld pagers, in Beirut. Even when the Lebanese judicial system found Fakhoury innocent of multiple false charges that he was a killer, a terrorist and an Israeli agent, Guila said officials told Fakhoury that they had to keep him "because Hezbollah wants [him] in prison." Fakhoury's family faced difficulties even before filing their case in May 2021. Zoya says Hezbollah officials in Lebanon have been issuing threats to the family since Fakhoury's death. In addition to Iran failing to respond to the suit, Guila said Lebanese General Directorate of General Security officials interfered with the lawsuit by asking to have their names and agencies removed. She says the judge denied the request. Long periods of silence from the court also made the wait for justice difficult, Zoya said. "The last four years, we were fearful," she explained. "We were worried maybe nothing's going to come out of this." While the family is grateful for the judgment they received, Guila says they believe 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." Still, the landmark judgment paves the way for others to find justice, the family says. "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. "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," Zoya explained. The sisters said the next steps in their journey are to find justice for their father and will involve requesting the State Department to sanction "officials in Lebanon who were traitors and working with Hezbollah and Iran." Original article source: Family of American hostage tortured in Lebanon wins landmark case against Iran
Broadcast Pro
27-04-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
7awi Media appoints Amjad Fakhoury as Country Head for Saudi Arabia
In this role, Fakhoury will lead the company's strategic expansion, drive market growth and look to enhance 7awi's presence in the region. 7awi Media Group has announced the appointment of Amjad Fakhoury as the new Country Head for its operations in Saudi Arabia. In his new role, Fakhoury will be responsible for driving the company's strategic expansion, boosting market growth, and strengthening 7awi's footprint across the Kingdom. Fakhoury brings a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, sales and marketing, market expansion and data-driven decision-making. His proven ability to craft and execute business strategies, lead high-performing teams, and build strong client relationships is expected to play a crucial role in advancing 7awi's goals in the Saudi market. Anas Abbar, CEO of 7awi Media Group, said: 'Amjad's leadership and strategic vision make him the perfect fit to lead our operations in Saudi Arabia. His ability to drive growth, optimise operations, and build strong partnerships aligns perfectly with our vision for expansion in the kingdom and beyond.' Commenting on his new role, Amjad Fakhouri, Country Head of KSA of 7awi Media Group, added: 'As the Kingdom has evolved, so has communications. We have witnessed a significant shift in our clients' approach to media Needs and Exposure, with a strong preference for genuine Media Support.' Fakhouri continued: '7awi is already regarded as a trusted partner as one of the biggest Arabic digital publishers in the region, creative agency and a sold partner for development and strategic communications by numerous international, regional and local clients. In light of this reputation, it is imperative that we actively guide our clients towards our comprehensive services, which surpass those of our competitors in the region. Our expansion plans in the Kingdom include reaching several cities by 2026, supported by a dedicated team committed to serving our clients.'
Campaign ME
23-04-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
7awi Media Group appoints Country Head for KSA operations
7awi Media Group, which runs digital platforms for media and advertising solutions targeting the Middle East and North Africa region, has appointed Amjad Fakhoury as the Country Head for its operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In this role, Fakhoury will lead the company's strategic expansion, drive market growth and look to enhance 7awi's presence in the region. Fakhoury brings expertise in strategic leadership, sales and marketing, market expansion, and data-driven decision-making. He has proven experience in developing and executing business strategies, managing high-performance teams, and fostering customer relationships. Commenting on the appointment, Anas Abbar, CEO of 7awi Media Group., said, 'Amjad's leadership and strategic vision make him the perfect fit to lead our operations in Saudi Arabia. His ability to drive growth, optimise operations, and build strong partnership aligns perfectly with our vision for expansion in the kingdom and beyond.' The appointment is in line with 7awi Media Group's commitment to investing in top talent and reinforcing its leadership in the region's digital media landscape. Commenting on his new role, Amjad Fakhouri, Country Head of KSA, 7awi Media Group, said, 'As the Kingdom has evolved, so has communications. We have witnessed a significant shift in our clients' approach to media Needs and Exposure, with a strong preference for genuine Media Support.' Fakhouri added, '7awi is already regarded as a trusted partner as one of the biggest Arabic digital publishers in the region, creative agency and a sold partner for development and strategic communications by numerous international, regional and local clients. In light of this reputation, it is imperative that we actively guide our clients towards our comprehensive services, which surpass those of our competitors in the region. Our expansion plans in the Kingdom include reaching several cities by 2026, supported by a dedicated team committed to serving our clients.'
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
7awi Media Group appoints Mr. Amjad Fakhoury as country head for KSA operations
Dubai, United Arab of Emirates — 7awi Media Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Amjad Fakhoury as the new Country Head for its operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In this role, he will lead the company's strategic expansion, drive market growth, and enhance 7awi's presence in the region. Mr. Fakhoury brings extensive expertise in strategic leadership, sales and marketing, market expansion, and data-driven decision-making. His strong background in developing and executing business strategies, managing high-performance teams, and fostering customer relationships will play a key role in advancing 7awi's success in KSA. ' Amjad's leadership and strategic vision make him the perfect fit to lead our operations in Saudi Arabia, ' said Anas Abbar, CEO of 7awi Media Group. 'His ability to drive growth, optimize operations, and build strong partnership aligns perfectly with our vision for expansion in the kingdom and beyond.' Commenting on his new role, Amjad Fakhouri, Country Head of KSA of 7awi Media Group said, 'As the Kingdom has evolved, so has communications. We have witnessed a significant shift in our clients' approach to media Needs and Exposure, with a strong preference for genuine Media Support Fakhouri continued, ' 7awi is already regarded as a trusted partner as one of the biggest Arabic digital publishers in the region, creative agency and a sold partner for development and strategic communications by numerous international, regional and local clients. In light of this reputation, it is imperative that we actively guide our clients towards our comprehensive services, which surpass those of our competitors in the region. Our expansion plans in the Kingdom include reaching several cities by 2026, supported by a dedicated team committed to serving our clients.' This appointment reflects 7awi Media Group's commitment to investing in top talent and reinforcing its leadership in the region's digital media landscape. For media inquiries, please contact: Name: Lovely Castillejo Email: About "7awi Media Group' 7awi Media Group is a leading digital platform for media and advertising solutions targeting the Middle East and North Africa. "7awi" owns and manages a rich and varied group of electronic portals with more than 29 million monthly users and more than 100 million followers on the social media with offices in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. | X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree
