WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, our family acknowledges the decision of the United States federal court granting default judgment against the former Assad regime in the wrongful death case of our beloved Majd Kamalmaz. After many years of suffering, uncertainty, and heartbreak, the Court formally held the Assad regime responsible for Majd’s abduction, detention, torture, and death.
This ruling represents a formal recognition of the truth: that Majd was taken from us unjustly, that he was held in facilities known for torture and arbitrary killings, and that his death was not forgotten, ignored, or erased. For nearly nine years, we lived with hope, anguish, and ultimately devastating loss. The Court’s acknowledgment of the profound harm inflicted on Majd and of the suffering endured by our family means more to us than any number ever could.
But no court decision, no matter how significant, can bring Majd home. We miss him every single day. His gentle presence, his wisdom, his humor, and the quiet strength he carried into every room. He was our husband, father, grandfather, brother, and the heart of our family. A psychotherapist and humanitarian, Majd dedicated his life to helping others heal from trauma and loss. The cruelty he suffered stands in stark contrast to the life he lived as a healer, a man devoted to dignity and compassion.
Majd’s sister, Samar Hamwi, who did not live to see this day, dreamed of this symbolic victory not only for her brother, but for every Syrian who endured the unspeakable horrors of Assad’s prisons. The heartbreak of losing Majd weighed on her every day, and we believe that this grief contributed to the cancer that ultimately took her life. Though she is not here to witness this moment, this victory also belongs to her. Just as she dreamed, we dedicate this judgment to the millions of Syrians who suffered, disappeared, and lost their lives under a horrific regime.
Any funds awarded, though recovery remains unlikely, will be used to honor Majd’s legacy by supporting individuals and communities affected by violence, trauma, and displacement, which were the very causes that defined his life’s work. We will carry forward his belief in lifting people up in their darkest moments, preserving his memory through service, compassion, and healing.
This decision closes one difficult legal chapter, even as many questions remain. Above all, it affirms that what happened to Majd was wrong, that his life mattered, and that justice, even years later, is possible. We call on the U.S. government, our government, for whose support over the years we are deeply grateful, to now open a criminal case. We call for those responsible to be held accountable.
We are grateful to Miller & Chevalier for representing our family in this difficult legal battle and to the Syrian Emergency Task Force for their support throughout the years.