An American court has ruled in favor of the family of Amer Fakhoury, determining that Iran, through its proxy Hezbollah, is responsible for his kidnapping and torture. This decision comes after nearly four years of seeking justice.

Guila and Zoya Fakhoury, Amer Fakhoury’s daughters, reported that the judge’s ruling holding Iran accountable for their father’s imprisonment was made on May 1.

Guila stated that this is the first lawsuit to demonstrate Iran’s influence over Lebanon, adding that they were very pleased with the judgment.

Amer Fakhoury was arrested in September 2019, a week after traveling to Lebanon with his family. A Hezbollah-linked newspaper alleged that Fakhoury, a former member of the South Lebanon Army, had worked at a detention center where human rights abuses were reported.

Fakhoury was released from military prison in December 2019, but was only able to return to the U.S. in March 2020 after the Lebanese Supreme Court dropped the charges against him. By then, he had lost 60 pounds and was suffering from late-stage lymphoma, rib fractures, and other health issues. He died in September 2020 at the age of 57.

The family faced a battle to prove Fakhoury’s suffering and torture. Guila noted that the State Department’s classification of her father as a hostage was crucial in demonstrating the nature of his captivity.

Proving Iran’s involvement was more challenging. While some dismissed the family’s claim that Iran was responsible, Zoya argued that Iran’s influence in Lebanon in recent years further supports their claim.

Because Iran did not respond to the lawsuit, the family had to provide evidence of Hezbollah’s control over various Lebanese government entities, including the military hospital, military court, and the General Directorate of General Security, which Guila said arrested and tortured Fakhoury.

Even after the Lebanese judicial system found Fakhoury innocent of false charges, officials told him that they had to keep him detained because Hezbollah wanted him in prison.

The Fakhoury family faced challenges even before filing their case in May 2021. Zoya said Hezbollah officials in Lebanon have been threatening the family since Fakhoury’s death. In addition to Iran’s lack of response, Guila said Lebanese General Directorate of General Security officials interfered with the lawsuit by requesting the removal of their names and agencies, a request the judge denied.

Zoya also mentioned that long periods of silence from the court made the wait for justice difficult and created fear that nothing would come of the case.

While the family appreciates the judgment, Guila felt that the settlement awarded through the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act was somewhat unfair and did not fully account for the family’s pain and suffering.

The family believes this landmark judgment can help others find justice. Guila expressed hope that the current administration will use their judgment and ongoing efforts to continue accountability efforts. Zoya added that other Lebanese and American citizens targeted by the Lebanese government or Hezbollah in Lebanon can now use this case to seek justice.

The sisters stated that their next steps involve seeking justice against Lebanese officials who collaborated with Hezbollah and Iran.

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