Washington, DC, December 19, 2024 – Miller & Chevalier announces the filing of a civil lawsuit on behalf of Dr. Omar Jaraki in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The lawsuit seeks at least $100 million in compensatory and punitive damages from Syria for the unlawful detention and torture of Dr. Jaraki in October 2023.

Dr. Jaraki is an American physician who practiced medicine in Damascus, Syria. He was abducted by the Syrian Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) and imprisoned for 40 days in its notorious Branch 235 prison facility, where he was brutally tortured on account of his U.S. citizenship and connections with the U.S. Dr. Jaraki's interrogation and torture were conducted by MID, under close supervision by Iranian officials stationed at the detention facility. For over a month, Dr. Jaraki was interrogated, beaten, burned, and suspended from a wall for days at a time. He suffered debilitating injuries and infections resulting in an amputation, which have left him permanently crippled and severely traumatized. 

The lawsuit, filed under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's (FSIA) "state sponsor of terrorism" exception, seeks compensatory damages for wrongful death, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, and emotional damages for Dr. Jaraki's wife. The plaintiffs also seek punitive damages, bringing the total claim to at least $100 million. This development represents a significant step towards justice for the Jarakis and reinforces Miller & Chevalier's commitment to securing justice for victims of torture by terrorist regimes. 

Miller & Chevalier is at the forefront of holding state sponsors of terrorism, such as Iran and Syria, accountable for their atrocities against U.S. citizens. In October 2023, the firm secured a judgment of approximately $50 million for Kevin Dawes, a U.S. citizen who was illegally arrested, imprisoned, and tortured in Syria. In July 2024, the firm filed suit on behalf of Majd Kamalmaz and his family. Mr. Kamalmaz was a U.S. citizen who was kidnapped, imprisoned, tortured, and killed in Syria.

About Miller & Chevalier 

Founded in 1920, Miller & Chevalier is a Washington, DC law firm with a global perspective and leading practices in Tax, International Law, Litigation, ERISA, White Collar Defense and Internal Investigations, Government Contracts, and Government Affairs. Miller & Chevalier is a top-ranked firm sharply focused on targeted areas that interact with the federal government. A significant number of firm lawyers have held senior positions in the U.S. government and have written many of the regulations they currently help clients navigate. For more information on the firm, visit www.millerchevalier.com.

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CONTACT: 

Pamela Munoz, Media Relations, Greentarget, 312-252-4115