Honoring the Lost and Fighting for the Living: The Importance of March 9th

At the end of 2023, a new law was passed that codified a hostage and wrongful detainee flag into law. This flag, a poignant emblem of struggle and hope, will be hoisted above the White House each year on March 9, designated as National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. This flag will fly over the White House on this day as well as on Flag Day representing all victims of hostage taking and illegal detention. As advocates for hostages, we at the Amer Foundation acknowledge the strides made by our government, while also recognizing the immense work that remains. 

Four years ago today, my family was praying for a miracle to get Amer Fakhoury back home. He was unjustly detained in Lebanon for 7 months by the Hezbollah controlled Lebanese government. Throughout his ordeal, we were left in the dark, uncertain if the U.S. government was exerting its full efforts to secure his freedom. We received no guidance or support. The media, controlled by Hezbollah in Lebanon, fabricated lies about Amer that eventually seeped into American news outlets.  We found ourselves not only clamoring for his release but also contending with the dissemination of misinformation. My sisters and I took every opportunity we could to get on live tv and share our father’s story; a man who was kidnapped by Hezbollah while on a family vacation. Through faith and perseverance, we finally received a call on March 17th telling us a deal had been secured and our father was finally safe. He returned home to the United States on March 19, 2020. He was 80 pounds lighter with an Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) related lymphoma cancer that took over his entire body. He died shortly after coming home. To this day my family is still fighting for justice for what happened to Amer Fakhoury.

Since 2019, the hostage community has seen significant growth, with numerous organizations and campaigns emerging to demand more from our government for victims and their families. Advocacy, while vital, is not the only thing victims of this tragic ordeal need. Americans continue to be unjustly held by foreign governments and used as political pawns. The cycle persists because it proves effective–those responsible for such detentions often face rewards rather than repercussions. The Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act explicitly states “The President is authorized to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against any foreign person responsible for or complicit in the unlawful or wrongful detention of a U.S. national abroad.” These are unfortunately words on paper. Since Amer Fakhoury’s passing, those involved with his illegal detention have not been held accountable. Some were even granted visas and private planes to come to the states. There has been no transparency on what is being done in regards to accountability in Amer Fakhoury’s case. 

As the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag unfurls over the White House, let it serve as a potent reminder to our legislators of their duty to take decisive action for their citizens who are being used by foreign governments. The current approach to hostage diplomacy is failing, as evidenced by the increasing number of Americans taken hostage each year. With laws in place to deter and punish wrongful detention, we implore our leaders to enforce them. May this flag remind us all of the relentless fight for freedom and justice, and inspire a commitment to bring every hostage and wrongfully detained American home.