Silenced in Beirut: The Harrowing Ordeal of American Citizen Amer Fakhoury

In a soon-to-be-released book, "Silenced in Beirut: American Businessman Amer Fakhour's Six-Month Ordeal as a Hostage In Lebanon," the daughters of Amer Fakhoury reveal the harrowing details of his illegal detention, the baseless accusations against him, and the relentless pursuit of justice after his untimely death.

In September 2023, the Fakhoury family will release a poignant memoir titled "Silenced in Beirut: American Businessman Amer Fakhour's Six-Month Ordeal as a Hostage In Lebanon." The book recounts the harrowing experience of Amer Fakhoury, a beloved father and respected businessman, who was unjustly detained in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2019.

Amer Fakhoury's daughters, Guila and Zoya Fakhoury, played a pivotal role in their father's release and continue to seek accountability for his wrongful imprisonment. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, they shared intimate details of the ordeal that unfolded over six months.

Silenced in Beirut: The Harrowing Ordeal of American Citizen Amer Fakhoury

Amer Fakhoury, a naturalized American citizen, was falsely accused of being the "Butcher of Khiam," an allegation fabricated by Hezbollah-backed media. The Fakhoury family vehemently denied these claims, asserting that Amer served solely as a logistics officer with the South Lebanon Army (SLA), a Christian-dominated, Israeli-backed militia.

Despite these denials, Fakhoury was detained upon his arrival in Beirut in 2019. He was subjected to beatings, torture, and unsanitary conditions, which his family believes led to his eventual diagnosis of lymphoma. During his detention, he was forced to sign a document falsely claiming Israeli citizenship and espionage.

Silenced in Beirut: The Harrowing Ordeal of American Citizen Amer Fakhoury

The Fakhoury family appealed to the Lebanese government and the US authorities for justice, but their pleas were met with silence. Desperate, they turned to Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), who proposed bipartisan sanctions against Lebanese officials involved in the detention of US citizens.

Through diplomatic efforts and the intervention of the Trump administration, Amer Fakhoury was evacuated from Beirut in a US Air Force V-22 Osprey in November 2019. After 75 pounds lighter and suffering from cancer, he returned home to receive treatment, where he passed away five months later.

Silenced in Beirut: The Harrowing Ordeal of American Citizen Amer Fakhoury

In their book, Guila and Zoya Fakhoury delve into the political machinations behind their father's detention, highlighting the role of Hezbollah and the US government's response. They also shed light on the injustice perpetrated against American citizens abroad and the lack of accountability for foreign governments involved in their detention.

"What we're still lacking from our US government is accountability," Guila Fakhoury told Fox News Digital. "So, unfortunately, it's been four years that we've been trying to hold accountable Lebanese officials and the Lebanese government for the killing of an American citizen."

Silenced in Beirut: The Harrowing Ordeal of American Citizen Amer Fakhoury

The Fakhourys have established the Amer Fakhoury Foundation to advocate for the families of other detained Americans, seek accountability from foreign governments, and pursue policy changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future. They hope that by sharing their father's story, they can inspire others to fight for justice and protect the rights of American citizens abroad.