The Federal Criminal Appeals Court ruled that the attack on the Israeli embassy in March 1992 and the bombing that destroyed the AMIA headquarters on July 18, 1994, “responded to a political and strategic design” by the Islamic Republic of Iran, and both attacks were carried out by the terrorist organization Hezbollah.
The verdict stated that the bombing of the AMIA was a crime of “against humanity” and opened the door for Argentina to formally demand action against Iran.
The ruling -issued by judges Carlos Mahiques, Diego Barroetaveña, and Angela Ledesma- includes a significant definition regarding the right to truth for the victims and their families, and the possibility for them to sue the responsible parties, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In his opinion, Judge Mahiques suggests that Argentina could undertake this claim diplomatically, through an arbitral tribunal, or even through the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
This is because the Appeals Court has pronounced on the scope of the jihadist international terrorist crime, establishing that the attack on the AMIA was organized, planned, financed, and executed by members of organizations that are organically, functionally, and ideologically linked to a State (as is the case with Hezbollah).
