Majd Kamalmaz (January 6, 1958 – after February 2017) was a Syrian-American[1] psychotherapist from Arlington, Virginia, who was detained in Syria in February 2017 and held until his death was announced on May 18, 2024.
Majd Kamalmaz | |
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Born | January 6, 1958 Syria[1] |
Died | 2017 |
Nationality | American |
Known for | Being detained in Syria |
Medical career | |
Field | Psychotherapy |
Kamalmaz was running a nonprofit in Lebanon helping refugees deal with trauma when he drove to Syria in mid-February 2017 to visit a relative who had cancer. Once in Damascus, he called his wife to tell her that he had arrived safely. After that, the family never heard from him again.[2]
His children appealed to Donald Trump for help.[3][4][5] Kamalmaz was reported to be diabetic.[6][7]
Kamalmaz's family is a part of the Bring Our Families Home campaign, which advocates for bringing home wrongful detainees and hostages. Kamalmaz's image is featured in a 15-foot mural in Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) along with other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.[5]
On May 18, 2024, The New York Times reported that national security officials told his family that highly credible, classified information indicated that he had died in captivity.[2]
Miller & Chevalier and SETF Announced Civil Lawsuit Against Assad Regime seeking at least $70 million in punitive and compensatory damages for the unlawful detention, torture, and killing of Majd Kamalmaz.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ a b "MAJD KAMALMAZ - Wanted Poster". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ^ a b Goldman, Adam; Benner, Katie (2024-05-18). "Texas Family Finally Learns Fate of Man Held in Syria". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ^ "Majd Kamalmaz: Daughters of American detained in Syria make public appeal to President Trump for help - CBS News". CBS News. 2019-01-22. Archived from the original on 2024-06-06. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "'His Success Gives Us Hope': Family Calls on Trump to Free Man Imprisoned in Syria. Fox News Insider. "As seen on The Story with Martha MacCallum" January 21, 2019. 10:22 pm". Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ a b McLaughlin, Eliott C. (2019-01-22). "Family of doctor detained in Syria calls on Trump to broker deal for his release". CNN. Archived from the original on 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ Yee, Vivian (2019-01-20). "An American Disappeared in Syria 2 Years Ago. His Family Wants Trump to Help". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ Nissenbaum, Dion (2019-01-20). "Seeking Help, Family Breaks Silence on American Missing in Syria". Wall Street Journal.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Miller & Chevalier and SETF Announce Civil Lawsuit Against Assad Regime for Unlawful Detention, Torture, and Killing of American Psychotherapist". Miller & Chevalier. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "Miller & Chevalier and SETF Announce Civil Lawsuit Against Assad Regime for Unlawful Detention, Torture, and Killing of American Psychotherapist". Syrian Emergency Task Force. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
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