Texas family sues Syria over death of loved one

The family of Majd Kamalmaz, an American psychotherapist detained at a government checkpoint in Damascus, Syria, in 2017, has filed a civil lawsuit against the Syrian government, accusing it of kidnapping, torturing and killing him.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Kamalmaz's four children, his widow and his sister, accuses Syrian officials of deliberately killing the aid worker and trying to cover up his death.

His daughter, Maryam, told Fox News Digital last month that U.S. officials presented the Kamalmaz family with classified information in May, saying they believed he died in Syria's notorious prison system.

American psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz reportedly died in Syria's notorious prison system. (Kamalmaz Family)

The complaint, filed under the “state sponsor of terrorism” exception to the Foreign State Immunity Act, seeks compensatory damages for wrongful death, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and unlawful confinement.

The plaintiffs are also seeking punitive damages, bringing the total amount sought to at least $70 million.

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“Today, on behalf of the Kamalmaz family, we have taken the first step in holding the Syrian regime accountable for its crimes against Majd Kamalmaz, which culminated in his assassination,” said Kirby Behre, lead attorney for the Kamalmaz family, according to a press release from the Syrian Emergency Task Force.

“The family filed this lawsuit to draw international attention to the crimes committed by Syria against thousands of victims, and looks to the U.S. government to pursue criminal prosecutions against Syria.”

Majd Kamalmaz with his grandchildren. (Kamalmaz Family)

Kamalmaz was visiting an elderly family member at the time of his arrest and had plans to establish a clinic in Syria to help victims affected by the civil war.

His daughter, Ula, told Fox News Digital earlier this year that the family was never given a reason for their father's detention because there was never a case or crime against him.

She suggested her father may have been detained because of his American passport.

“He didn’t do anything,” she said. “He wasn’t very political, you know, the only thing he did was just… he was a psychotherapist and worked with refugees.”

“They set up a temporary checkpoint to kidnap him. They probably thought they could make money off of him. That’s how they do things in Syria. Unfortunately, they’re now going to arrest the person and they’re not going to release him until his family pays a very large sum of money to get him out,” Ula added. “So it’s a very corrupt situation.”

Majd Kamalmaz was arrested at a government checkpoint in Damascus, Syria, in 2017. (AP Photo)

The civil complaint alleges that Dr. Kamalmaz was unlawfully detained, wrongfully imprisoned, and subjected to inhumane and unlawful treatment in notorious Syrian prisons, including the Mezzeh military airport, known for the “torture and murder of perceived enemies of the Syrian regime.”

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“Syrian officials and agents deliberately killed Mr. Kamalmaz. Acting in concert and with premeditation, these officials and agents deliberately killed Mr. Kamalmaz and attempted to cover up his death,” the complaint reads in part.

“The assassination of Mr. Kamalmaz by the Syrian regime was aimed at intimidating and terrorizing the Syrian civilian population, the victims' relatives and the international community.”

FILE PHOTO: A man walks past a banner depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Douma, outside Damascus, Syria, September 17, 2018. (Reuters/Marko Djurica/file photo)

The US government has set up a fund for victims of state terrorism that could compensate the Kamalmaz family if the court rules in their favor and awards them damages.

The U.S. State-Sponsored Terrorism Victims Fund may provide compensation, with a $20 million per person ceiling, or $20 million to $35 million per family. Depending on the size of the fund, the family could receive a percentage of the amount paid over several years.

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“I know that if my father were with me right now, he would not rest until every man, woman, and child is freed from the Assad regime’s concentration camps,” Maryam said. “In his honor, we intend to hold the regime fully accountable for its crimes against Americans and Syrians, and we call on the U.S. Senate to urgently pass the Assad Anti-Normalization Act for the sake of Americans still held by this criminal regime.”