September 11, 2007

Judge Orders Iran to Pay $13-Million for Terrorist Bombing That Killed Student

Jerusalem — Officials at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have welcomed a ruling by an American court that ordered the government of Iran to pay compensation for an American student who was killed on the campus in a Hamas bomb attack in 2002.

The student, Marla Bennett, a 24-year-old from San Diego who was a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, was studying for an M.A. in Jewish education. She was one of nine students and cafeteria workers killed in the lunchtime explosion in the crowded Frank Sinatra Cafeteria at the university’s Mount Scopus Campus.

In a ruling issued on August 30, Judge Royce C. Lamberth, of the U.S. District Court in Washington, determined that because the bombing had been carried out by members of the Hamas terrorist movement, which is supported by the Iranian government, Iran bore responsibility for the attack. Judge Lamberth ordered Iran to pay $12,904,548 to Ms. Bennett’s estate and family. The Iranian government did not respond to the lawsuit, and as with other such terrorism-related litigation against Iran, the plaintiffs are likely to find it difficult to collect the judgment.

In a statement issued today, the Hebrew University administration said it “pays tribute to the memory of Marla Bennett and all of the other victims of the terrorist attack and expressed satisfaction at the decision of the court, which perhaps will ease, if only slightly, the sorrow of the family.” —Matthew Kalman

Comments

1. Iran should be held responsible for many bombings and murders since they supply the materials. The court should get the money from Iranian banks and other financial holdings.

   — Kan Chandras    Sep 11, 08:20 PM    #

2. It looks like justice as temporarily prevailed. It will be interesting to follow if this settlement is actually honored.

   William Allan Kritsonis, PhD

   — William Allan Kritsonis, PhD    Sep 12, 12:24 PM    #

3. Iran – not Saddam Hussein’s Iraq – has been the true state sponsor of terror for decades. It is notorious for sending agents to attack a Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires. This ruling is gratifying – it provides a legal justification for holding Iran to account for its actions.

   — Barry List    Sep 21, 12:00 PM    #

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