Amer Foundation

Honor of the late US hostage, Amer Fakhoury - Advocate for hostages and illegal detainees and promote democracy in the Middle East - Silence is Not an Option

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

Fakhoury Family Wins Landmark Case Against Iran

The Fakhoury family has won a landmark case against Iran, proving for the first time that Iran, through Hezbollah, is illegally occupying Lebanon.

This case exposed how Hezbollah, backed by Iran, fabricated lies to illegally detain Amer Fakhoury—an innocent man—and demonstrated Iran’s ongoing interference within Lebanese institutions, especially the Lebanese General Security that was led by Abbas Ibrahim at the time of Amer’s kidnapping.

This victory opens a new chapter for justice in Lebanon, giving hope to all who seek accountability and sovereignty.

Justice has begun — and this is just the beginning. We will continue our efforts to hold every responsible individual accountable for unjustly detaining an innocent man.

#Justice #Lebanon #Iran #Hezbollah #Sovereignty #LegalVictory #Freedom

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

This week, Amer Foundation President Guila Fakhoury appeared on MTV Lebanon to discuss her family’s experience growing up in South Lebanon and the lasting impact these events had on their lives.

In our latest blog, we reflect on the realities faced by many families from South Lebanon and why preserving these personal accounts is an important part of documenting Lebanon’s history.

We would also like to thank MTV Lebanon and the Beirut Today team for providing a platform for people from South Lebanon to share their stories with a broader audience.

Read the full blog below.

https://t.co/iT9upe8BP5

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

The Amer Foundation mourns the loss of a father, grandfather, and humanitarian who was executed in Sednaya Prison, a site notorious for grave abuses. He was sentenced to death and was executed without a crime or charge. We stand with Maryam and her family. May Majd KamAlmaz rest in peace.

We call on the international community to pursue full accountability and justice for Majd, as well as for the thousands of others who were tortured, disappeared, and killed in Syrian detention centers. Those responsible for these atrocities at every level, must be identified, investigated, and held accountable under international law.

[Maryam KamAlmaz @MKamalmaz]

We’ve learned the horrible news of what happened to my father... he was executed in Sednaya Prison, infamously known as the “human slaughterhouse," sentenced to death by an Assad regime judge nicknamed “The Butcher.”

He was executed without a crime or charges.

My dad was the most caring and compassionate person I knew, always caring so deeply for everyone around him. A loving grandfather and an award-winning humanitarian who lived a life of compassion and service, ripped away from our family by heartless criminals.

May his soul rest in peace. 🕊️

We will never forget him or all the other victims of these atrocities.

May every person responsible for these crimes be exposed, judged, and held accountable for the suffering they inflicted. #Syria

[James W. Foley Legacy Foundation @JamesFoleyFund]

Today, we remember Majd Kamalmaz, an American-Syrian humanitarian and psychotherapist.

Majd was wrongfully detained and disappeared by the Assad regime in 2017 while providing mental health support in Syria and he became one of countless victims of Assad’s government. Although the U.S. government confirmed Majd’s death in May 2024, his family is still denied justice and the return of his remains.

We honor Majd’s life and work, and we will not let him be forgotten.

To learn more about Majd, visit: https://t.co/iRCft5zxVS

@freemajdk

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

Welcome home @Shahab_Dalili

[James W. Foley Legacy Foundation @JamesFoleyFund]

We celebrate today’s news that @Shahab_Dalili is safe at home in Virginia after ten years of wrongful detention by the Iranian regime!

The Foley Foundation is grateful for his tireless advocates, including @JasonPoblete and @SenTimKaine, for their consistent efforts to secure his freedom. We are honored to have been part of the team. But Shahab’s greatest advocates have been his family members, who never gave up hope.

We wish them a heartfelt reunion and respect their request for privacy. @BOFH #BringThemHome

[James W. Foley Legacy Foundation @JamesFoleyFund]

We celebrate today’s news that @Shahab_Dalili is safe at home in Virginia after ten years of wrongful detention by the Iranian regime!

The Foley Foundation is grateful for his tireless advocates, including @JasonPoblete and @SenTimKaine, for their consistent efforts to secure his freedom. We are honored to have been part of the team. But Shahab’s greatest advocates have been his family members, who never gave up hope.

We wish them a heartfelt reunion and respect their request for privacy. @BOFH #BringThemHome

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

This past week in Washington was Hostage Week, a time where families of U.S. hostages came together to advocate for their loved ones, honor those impacted by wrongful detention and captivity, and stand united in a shared mission to bring every hostage home.

Throughout the week, there were numerous meaningful events dedicated to hostage families and the broader hostage advocacy community, including the James W. Foley Freedom Awards, which continues to honor the legacy of James Foley and raise awareness for hostages and wrongful detainees around the world. Hostage US also held a powerful gathering bringing together families, advocates, and supporters, while Hostage Aid Worldwide hosted an event honoring Diane Foley for her tireless dedication and advocacy on behalf of hostage families everywhere.

Guila and Zoya, daughters of the late U.S. hostage Amer Fakhoury, had the honor of attending and representing their father throughout the week’s events. Hostage Week serves as a reminder that no family should have to face these battles alone, and that through unity, advocacy, and shared support, these voices continue to push for justice and the safe return of all hostages.

[Bring Our Families Home Campaign @BOFHcampaign]

This is Hostage Week. Families of current hostages & wrongful detainees come to Washington DC to advocate for their loved ones, to meet with their advisors, with their lawyers, with USG officials, and with anyone who they think can help them bring their loved ones home. It’s hard, emotional, exhausting.

Let’s help them. Repost. Learn about their loved ones.

The following American hostages & wrongful detainees are still waiting to be reunited with their families:
Andre Khachatoorian (detained in Russia)
Zack Shahin (detained in the UAE)
Mahmood Habibi (detained in Afghanistan)
David Barnes (detained in Russia)
Robert Gilman (detained in Russia)
Olga Jezler (detained in Russia)
Chuck Zimmerman (detained in Russia)
Alexsandr Antonov (detained in Russia)
Alina Lopez (detained in Cuba)
Reza Valizadeh (detained in Iran)
Kamran Hekmati (detained in Iran)

[Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs @StateSPEHA]

It’s Hostage Week—a time to come together with former hostages, their families, and support those still waiting. The Trump administration is committed to bringing all Americans unjustly held overseas home.🎗️

[Bring Our Families Home Campaign @BOFHcampaign]

Artist & Fulbright scholar @isaacampbellart putting the finishing touches before heading to the Russell Senate Building Rotunda to display a NEW EXHIBIT honoring our American hostages & wrongful detainees in the Bring Our Families Home Campaign - both current and former. May 4th to 8th...

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

South Lebanon Relief Fund Update

The Amer Foundaiton’s South Lebanon Relief Fund is already making a direct impact on the ground. The first round of aid has been delivered to families in Marjeyoun, Klayaa, and Rmeich:

* $7,500 distributed in Marjeyoun
* $3,000 distributed in Klayaa
* $4,000 distributed in Rmeich

We are now preparing the next phase of support to reach additional families across the south. The need remains urgent. Many communities are still not receiving adequate assistance, and the humanitarian situation continues to be critical. If you’re able to help, please consider donating through our website (https://t.co/NTxr1QgTO0) or via Venmo @AmerFoundation.

Thank you for standing with South Lebanon.

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

Yesterday marked a historic moment between Lebanon and Israel. For the first time since 1983, ambassadors from both nations met face-to-face in Washington, DC. While this meeting signals a potential opening for diplomacy, it comes amid
ongoing war and immense human suffering.

Despite Hezbollah’s opposition to direct talks, Lebanon’s participation reflects an important moment where the Lebanese government asserted its sovereignty and acted in the interest of its people and the future of the nation.

At the Amer Foundation, we believe that diplomacy must be rooted in the protection of human life and the dignity of those most affected. Today, over a million people in Lebanon remain displaced, families are separated, and entire communities—especially in the south—continue to endure the consequences of a war they did not choose. Hezbollah has been infiltrating the government for 40 years, and causing pain and suffering to the Lebanese. We are happy to see Lebanon free itself from Hezbollah and Iran’s grip for the first time.

As much as we are happy to see this meeting takes place, this meeting must not be symbolic. It must lead to real action: an end to violence, protection for civilians, and a future where the people of Lebanon can live in safety, and peace.

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

Bringing hostages home should be one of the top priorities during the negotiations between USA and Iran. Iran has held captive numerous Americans and continues to unjustly detain Americans in evin prison. Americans must come first in these negotiations.

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

In just one week, the Amer Foundation raised $20,000 to support families in Lebanon. We want to thank everyone who has contributed, your donation will go straight to families who are in need. We will provide constant updates once families have received their aid and the number of families who will be supported during this time.

We also want to give a special thanks to our teams on the ground working for the Amer Foundation. It is not easy delivering aid to the south under these war conditions, but their courage and dedication makes this work possible.

We are deeply grateful to every single person who has donated, shared, and supported the South Lebanon Relief Fund. Your kindness is reaching people who need it most.

Lebanon is hurting, and we cannot look away. If you’re able to give, please consider donating and helping us continue this work.

https://t.co/1woGBcbuqm

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

The Iran backed group Kataib Hezbollah announced it would free the journalist kidnapped in Baghdad in late March following pressure and negotiations, but required her immediate departure from the country as part of the release terms.

Shelly Kittleson is an American freelance journalist who has reported extensively from the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, over several years covering politics and conflict prior to her abduction.

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

The Amer Foundation is deeply concerned by the kidnapping of Shelly Kittleson, an American journalist who has contributed to Al-Monitor, Foreign Policy, Politico, and the BBC. Reports indicate that she was kidnapped by armed men in Baghdad, Iraq. Sources say the kidnappers were associated with the Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah.

Journalists worldwide put their lives at risk to share the truth. We urge the Untied States Government to prioritize her safe return. We will provide updates as verified information becomes available.

[Zoya @Zoya_Fakhoury]

What happened to my dad, Amer Fakhoury, in 2019 exposed who is really controlling Lebanon. Read my latest opinion piece:

https://t.co/FNhgTjZZir

[Amer Foundation @amer_foundation]

Today, after more than a year of wrongful detention in Afghanistan, Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old academic from Colorado, is on his way home. Dennis had been in Afghanistan for over 20 years preserving linguistic diversity and assisting communities. We are grateful for the efforts of all who helped secure his release and for the support of international partners advocating for Americans held unjustly abroad.

While Dennis’s return is a long-awaited relief, more work remains. We continue to call for the immediate release of Mahmood Habibi, Paul Overby, and all other Americans still unjustly detained by the Taliban. The practice of hostage diplomacy must end.