Amer Fakhoury Foundation
| Formation | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Dover, New Hampshire |
| Website | amerfakhouryfoundation |
The Amer Fakhoury Foundation is a 501(c)(3) human rights organization based in Dover, New Hampshire[1] that works for US citizens forcefully detained in other countries.[2]
History
[edit]Amer Fakhoury, a restaurant owner in Dover, New Hampshire and former South Lebanon Army commander of the notorious Khiam prison, fled Lebanon in 2000 and relocated in the United States due to war and turmoil. Prior to his arrival in Lebanon, he was sentenced to death in absentia for his collaboration with Israel.[3] In September 2019, he travelled to Lebanon on a family vacation. His passport was seized, and he was accused of decades-old murder and torture charges, allegedly during the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon when he was commander at the prison known for human rights abuses, kidnapping, torture and murder. His actions earned Fakhoury the nickname, "The Butcher of Khiam."[4] Following threats from the U.S. of economic sanctions, he was released on 19 March 2020, and returned to the US, where he died in August 2020.[5][6][7][8][9]
The Amer Fakhoury Foundation was established by the family of Fakhoury in 2019.[10][5] The goal of the organization is to be a support network for people like their father and their families.[7][5][11] The organization held a Washington DC protest and paid for all the families of hostages[clarification needed]. The protest was featured in a documentary about hostages in The Washington Post.[7][12][13] In 2021, Fakhoury's four daughters went to Washington, where they met with State Department officials and US Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who had worked with New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen on a bill to ban visas and freeze assets of Lebanese officials involved in Fakhoury's detention.[14]
The foundation also organized a demonstration outside the White House in 2021 for the multiple Texas families to call on the Biden administration to bring their relatives and others home from detainment in Russia, Venezuela, Rwanda, Syria, and elsewhere.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Amer Fakhoury Foundation Corp". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
- ^ "Amer Fakhoury Foundation aims to provide hope". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Amer Fakhoury case: US court condemns Iran and Hezbollah". L'Orient–Le Jour. 8 May 2025. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "'Butcher of Khiam': Lebanon charges 'Israeli collaborator' Amer Fakhoury with murder". The New Arab. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Charity founded to honor ex-member of Israel-backed militia jailed by Lebanon". Times of Israel. 13 September 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Gross, Jenny (August 18, 2020). "Amer Fakhoury, 57, Dies; Released From Jail in Lebanon After U.S. Pressure". The New York Times. p. 28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c McCormack, Kathy (March 27, 2021). "Family of man held in Lebanon builds support for hostages". Associated Press. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Chasmar, Jessica; Heinrich, Jacqui (May 11, 2022). "Family of former US hostage slams Biden pick for counterterrorism job: 'We are shocked'". Fox News. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Chehayeb, Kareem (17 March 2020). "Lebanon releases US citizen accused of torture at Israel-backed prison". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Heinrich, Jacqui; Evansky, Ben (December 24, 2020). "Ahead of first Christmas without their dad, daughters of late American hostage Amer Fakhoury launch nonprofit". Fox News. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Amer Fakhoury Foundation aims to provide hope". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "World Digest: March 19, 2020". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Family of late NH man held in Lebanon starts foundation". Washington Post. September 12, 2020. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "AMER FAKHOURY FOUNDATION ANSWERS INVITATION TO MEET AGAIN WITH US SENATE, HOUSE LEADERS". Alkalima Online (in Arabic). June 2, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Cherry, Mike (December 16, 2021). "Group launched after death of Dover businessman protests outside White House". WMUR. Retrieved January 31, 2023.