At Herischi Human Rights Law Center, a division at Herischi & Associates LLC, we are dedicated to fighting for justice for victims of human rights violations. Our latest case is a lawsuit filed against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for the killing of Omer "Chicho" Mahmoudzadeh, an American aid worker, in northern Iraq.
Chicho was conducting humanitarian work in the region when he was killed by a direct drone and missile attack by the IRGC on September 28th, 2022. The attack targeted Kurdish Iranian refugee camps in Iraq and resulted in the destruction of a UNESCO children's school in Koya. At least 13 people were killed, and up to 50 were wounded, including women and children.
The IRGC confirmed their responsibility for the attack, publishing a video showcasing their plan and firing of the missiles and drones that killed Chicho and other innocent victims. The U.S. State Department and several European countries and UN agencies have condemned the attack, and we at Herischi and Associates are committed to holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Chicho dedicated his life to helping Kurdish refugees and promoting equal human rights. He was remembered by his family and friends as a passionate and selfless person who stood up for democratic values and vulnerable refugees. His death is a tragic loss for all those who knew him and for the cause of human rights.
We are bringing this case under the terrorism exception of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Our goal is to hold the Iranian government and the IRGC accountable for their cross-border terrorism and to seek justice for Chicho and the other victims of this brutal attack.
At Herischi and Associates, we will continue to fight for justice for victims of human rights violations and to hold accountable those who commit these atrocities.