From Beirut to October 7, American victims of Iranian terrorism await justice that may never come
TERROR AFFAIRS: As American victims of Iranian terrorism await justice, families fear spending decades seeking financial compensation that may never arrive.
Many American victims of Iranian terrorism face an ongoing struggle for justice and restitution, years after surviving attacks. The trauma persists, manifesting in psychological and physical recovery, financial burdens, and the mounting costs of family care. Daily obligations, such as mortgage payments, rent, and utility bills, continue to rise, adding to the financial strain.
Established in 2015, the US Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund has disbursed over $10 billion in compensation, yet this pales in comparison to the tens of billions awarded in court judgments. Families await full compensation, despite decades having passed since their legal judgments. Some bereaved family members have even passed away before receiving a single payment.
Rep. Laura Gillen and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis have introduced a bill seeking a $3 billion loan from the Treasury to guarantee payouts for victims over the next three years, with repayment coming from collected sanctions penalties. Aryeh Portnoy, a lawyer representing victims against Iran, emphasizes the growing numbers of victims who have been seeking justice for decades, with many dying before seeing justice served.
Estera Votaw, a Holocaust survivor and bereaved family member, experienced unimaginable suffering twice over, but was still denied payment after surviving the Holocaust.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
