Latest news with #ArgentineIsraeliteMutualAssociation
Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Argentines commemorate 1994 Jewish centre bombing, demand justice
Buenos Aires — Hundreds of Argentines gathered Friday to commemorate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural centre that killed dozens, demanding justice for a crime for which there has not yet been a trial. Article content In the worst such attack in Argentina's history, a car bomb on July 18, 1994, killed 85 people and injured more than 300 at the seven-storey Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires. Article content Article content Two years earlier, an explosion at the Israeli embassy killed 29 and wounded 200. Article content Article content 'Impunity persists, terrorism too' was the slogan for Friday's 31st commemoration of the AMIA attack — the second such event attended by President Javier Milei, a staunch defender of Israel. Article content Survivors and victims' relatives hope there will be movement under Catholic-born Milei, who has already visited Israel twice since taking office in December 2023, and has professed a deep interest in Judaism. Article content In April 2024, an Argentine court found Iran and Hezbollah were responsible for what it called a crime against humanity. Article content It ruled the likely motive for the attacks was the cancellation by the Argentine government under then-president Carlos Menem of three contracts with Iran for the supply of nuclear equipment and technology. Article content In June, a judge authorized a trial in absentia against ten Iranian and Lebanese defendants — former ministers and diplomats. Article content Article content No date has been set. Article content Article content Iran has always denied any involvement and has refused to hand over any suspects. Article content The Memoria Activa organization, which represents victims' families, rejects a trial in absentia as it believes it 'essential for the accused to participate' for the whole truth to come out. Article content The AMIA itself is in favour, but has cautioned that 'holding a trial only for it to end… in some sort of nullity or a declaration of unconstitutionality would once again be very painful for everyone.' Article content Both organizations have been highly critical of the Argentine state's handling of the case. Article content Last year, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica, found the state responsible for not preventing, or properly investigating, the AMIA attack.
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Argentines commemorate 1994 Jewish centre bombing, demand justice
Buenos Aires — Hundreds of Argentines gathered Friday to commemorate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural centre that killed dozens, demanding justice for a crime for which there has not yet been a trial. Article content In the worst such attack in Argentina's history, a car bomb on July 18, 1994, killed 85 people and injured more than 300 at the seven-storey Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires. Article content Article content Two years earlier, an explosion at the Israeli embassy killed 29 and wounded 200. Article content Article content Survivors and victims' relatives hope there will be movement under Catholic-born Milei, who has already visited Israel twice since taking office in December 2023, and has professed a deep interest in Judaism. Article content In April 2024, an Argentine court found Iran and Hezbollah were responsible for what it called a crime against humanity. Article content It ruled the likely motive for the attacks was the cancellation by the Argentine government under then-president Carlos Menem of three contracts with Iran for the supply of nuclear equipment and technology. Article content In June, a judge authorized a trial in absentia against ten Iranian and Lebanese defendants — former ministers and diplomats. Article content Article content No date has been set. Article content Article content Iran has always denied any involvement and has refused to hand over any suspects. Article content The Memoria Activa organization, which represents victims' families, rejects a trial in absentia as it believes it 'essential for the accused to participate' for the whole truth to come out. Article content The AMIA itself is in favour, but has cautioned that 'holding a trial only for it to end… in some sort of nullity or a declaration of unconstitutionality would once again be very painful for everyone.' Article content Both organizations have been highly critical of the Argentine state's handling of the case. Article content Last year, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica, found the state responsible for not preventing, or properly investigating, the AMIA attack. Article content It also blamed the state for efforts to 'cover up and obstruct the investigation.'
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Argentines commemorate 1994 Jewish centre bombing, demand justice
Buenos Aires — Hundreds of Argentines gathered Friday to commemorate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural centre that killed dozens, demanding justice for a crime for which there has not yet been a trial. In the worst such attack in Argentina's history, a car bomb on July 18, 1994, killed 85 people and injured more than 300 at the seven-storey Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires. Two years earlier, an explosion at the Israeli embassy killed 29 and wounded 200. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Impunity persists, terrorism too' was the slogan for Friday's 31st commemoration of the AMIA attack — the second such event attended by President Javier Milei, a staunch defender of Israel. Survivors and victims' relatives hope there will be movement under Catholic-born Milei, who has already visited Israel twice since taking office in December 2023, and has professed a deep interest in Judaism. In April 2024, an Argentine court found Iran and Hezbollah were responsible for what it called a crime against humanity. It ruled the likely motive for the attacks was the cancellation by the Argentine government under then-president Carlos Menem of three contracts with Iran for the supply of nuclear equipment and technology. In June, a judge authorized a trial in absentia against ten Iranian and Lebanese defendants — former ministers and diplomats. No date has been set. Iran has always denied any involvement and has refused to hand over any suspects. The Memoria Activa organization, which represents victims' families, rejects a trial in absentia as it believes it 'essential for the accused to participate' for the whole truth to come out. The AMIA itself is in favour, but has cautioned that 'holding a trial only for it to end… in some sort of nullity or a declaration of unconstitutionality would once again be very painful for everyone.' Both organizations have been highly critical of the Argentine state's handling of the case. Last year, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica, found the state responsible for not preventing, or properly investigating, the AMIA attack. It also blamed the state for efforts to 'cover up and obstruct the investigation.' Prosecutor Alberto Nisman, investigating accusations of a cover-up against former president Cristina Kirchner, was later found murdered. No one was ever charged over his death. Argentina is host to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, with nearly 300,000 people living mostly in Buenos Aires. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Int'l Business Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Argentines Commemorate Jewish Center Bombing, Demand Justice
Hundreds of Argentines gathered Friday to commemorate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center that killed dozens, demanding justice for a crime for which there has not yet been a trial. In the worst such attack in Argentina's history, a car bomb on July 18, 1994, killed 85 people and injured more than 300 at the seven-story Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires. Two years earlier, an explosion at the Israeli embassy killed 29 and wounded 200. "Impunity persists, terrorism too" was the slogan for Friday's 31st commemoration of the AMIA attack -- the second such event attended by President Javier Milei, a staunch defender of Israel. Survivors and victims' relatives hope there will be movement under Catholic-born Milei, who has already visited Israel twice since taking office in December 2023, and has professed a deep interest in Judaism. In April 2024, an Argentine court found Iran and Hezbollah were responsible for what it called a crime against humanity. It ruled the likely motive for the attacks was the cancellation by the Argentine government under then-president Carlos Menem of three contracts with Iran for the supply of nuclear equipment and technology. In June, a judge authorized a trial in absentia against ten Iranian and Lebanese defendants -- former ministers and diplomats. No date has been set. Iran has always denied any involvement and has refused to hand over any suspects. The Memoria Activa organization, which represents victims' families, rejects a trial in absentia as it believes it "essential for the accused to participate" for the whole truth to come out. The AMIA itself is in favor, but has cautioned that "holding a trial only for it to end... in some sort of nullity or a declaration of unconstitutionality would once again be very painful for everyone." Both organizations have been highly critical of the Argentine state's handling of the case. Last year, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica, found the state responsible for not preventing, or properly investigating, the AMIA attack. It also blamed the state for efforts to "cover up and obstruct the investigation." Prosecutor Alberto Nisman, investigating accusations of a cover-up against former president Cristina Kirchner, was later found murdered. No one was ever charged over his death. Argentina is host to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, with nearly 300,000 people living mostly in Buenos Aires. Prosecutor Alberto Nisman (pictured on poster) investigated an alleged cover-up in the bombing, but was found murdered AFP Friday's commemmoration was the second attended by President Javier Milei AFP
Int'l Business Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Argentina To Try 10 In Absentia Over 1994 Bombing Of Jewish Center
Argentina will try in absentia ten Iranian and Lebanese nationals suspected of the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people, a ruling seen by AFP on Thursday said. The attack, which caused devastation in Latin America's biggest Jewish community, has never been claimed or solved, but Argentina and Israel have long suspected Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah group of carrying it out at Iran's request. Judge Daniel Rafecas acknowledged the "exceptional" nature of the decision to send the case to court, over three decades after the bombing and with the suspects all still at large. Trying them in absentia, he said, allowed to "at least try to uncover the truth and reconstruct what happened." On July 18, 1994, a truck laden with explosives was driven into the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) and detonated. The deadliest attack in Argentina's history injured more than 300 people No-one has ever been arrested over the attack. The ten suspects facing trial are former Iranian and Lebanese ministers and diplomats for whom Argentina has issued international arrest warrants. Since 2006 Argentina had sought the arrest of eight Iranians, including then-president Ali Akbar Hashemi Bahramaie Rafsanjani, who died in 2017. Iran has always denied any involvement and refused to arrest and hand over suspects. Thursday's ruling on trying them in absentia is the first of its kind in the South American country. Until March this year, the country's laws did not allow for suspects to be tried unless they were physically present. It comes amid a new push in recent years for justice to be served over the attack, backed by President Javier Milei, a staunch ally of Israel. Rafecas said a trial in absentia was justified given the "material impossibility of securing the presence of the defendants and the nature of the crime against humanity under investigation." In April 2024, an Argentine court blamed Hezbollah for the attack, which it called a "crime against humanity." It found that the attack and another on the Israeli embassy in 1992 that killed 29 people were likely triggered by the Argentine government under then-president Carlos Menem canceling three contracts with Iran for the supply of nuclear equipment and technology. The court did not however manage to produce evidence of Iran's involvement. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica last year found the Argentine state responsible for not preventing, nor properly investigating, the attack. It also blamed the state for efforts to "cover up and obstruct the investigation." Former president Cristina Kirchner has been ordered to stand trial over a memorandum she signed with Iran in 2013 to investigate the bombing. The memorandum, which was later annulled, allowed for suspects to be interrogated in Iran rather than Argentina, leading Kirchner to be accused of conspiring with Tehran in a cover-up. She has denied the allegations.
