Wiesenthal Center Praises Supreme Court Decision to Hold Iran Financially Responsible for its Support of Terrorism

Court's ruling “sends an unmistakable message that state sponsors of terrorism…will be held accountable right where it hurts them — in their pocketbook,”says Center official.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center hailed today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm the White House and Congress decision to holdIran financially responsible for acts of terrorism, including the 1983 Hezbollah bombing of U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon that killed 241 soldiers. The Supreme Court decision would freeup Iranian assets worth $1.75 billion dollars held in U.S. banks to compensate families of the victims.

“Today's historic decision by the U.S. Supreme Court confirms that Americans stand in solidarity with the victims ofterrorism,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Wiesenthal Center. “It sends an unmistakable message to state sponsors of terrorism, chief of them theMullahocracy in Tehran that they will be held accountable right where it hurts them--in their pocketbook,” he added.

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The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families inthe United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament(Parlatino).