We strongly support the Argentine government’s decision to send a bill to Congress that would enable “Trials in Absentia” in cases involving crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide.

This bill, introduced 30 years after the deadliest terrorist attack in Latin America’s history—the bombing of the AMIA building which housed many Jewish organizations—would require those accused of planning and executing the bombing to face trial even if they continue to refuse to appear before Argentine courts, as most are being protected by the Iranian regime. The bill being sent to Congress would allow defendants to appear in court to request a comprehensive review of the judgment, providing ample opportunities to defend themselves, thereby ensuring due process.

On July 18, 1994, a car-bomb exploded in front of the AMIA (Argentine Israelite Mutual Association) Jewish center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 85 people and injuring hundreds. All evidence points to Iran and its terrorist proxy Hezbollah in the planning and execution of this heinous crime. Despite overwhelming evidence, only secondary actors have been brought to justice.

“The accused in the AMIA case have deliberately evaded the Argentine justice system for too many years,” said Adriana Camisar, B’nai B’rith special advisor on Latin American and U.N. Affairs, who is based in Argentina and has worked on the adoption of this legislative measure for several years. “We believe that the constitutional guarantees of a democratic state should not be used in such an abusive way as to ensure impunity for the perpetrators of crimes of this magnitude.”

B’nai B’rith has long advocated for the adoption of the trial in absentia procedure in Argentina as a crucial step toward achieving some measure of justice in the case.

“A condemnatory ruling in absentia against the accused would facilitate the maintenance of the Interpol arrest warrants against them and would also give greater strength to eventual extradition requests,” Camisar said of the proposed legislation. “It is time for the survivors, the relatives of the victims and the people of Argentina to know the truth about who planned and executed this terrible criminal act.”

B’nai B’rith has been uniquely positioned in urging the Argentine government to act against Iran and it proxies. We welcome this important development.

Interviews are available in English and Spanish with Adriana Camisar, B’nai B’rith special advisor on Latin American and U.N. Affairs. Contact her at: acamisar@bnaibrith.org