(Washington, D.C., March 15, 2021) In a letter they published last week, INTERPOL suddenly announced that Ahlam Tamimi, a Jordanian terrorist, was no longer a "subject of notice." EMET is appalled that INTERPOL has decided to remove Ms. Tamimi from their list, given the heinous crimes she had master-minded. We believe that this is yet another reward given to a particularly unrepentant and repulsive terrorist and clearly sends a message to terrorists around the globe that murdering innocent people can go unpunished. This profoundly devalues the lives and blood of the 15 innocent people, including 8 children, that Ms. Tamimi, along with the suicide bomber Izz al Din Shuheil al Masri, murdered in cold blood, as well as undermines the efforts of the United States to bring Ms. Tamimi to justice on American soil.
Ms. Tamimi was the architect behind the Sbarro Pizzeria bombing on August 9, 2001, among the worst acts of terrorism Israel has experienced in modern history. Among those killed were two American citizens, Malki Roth, (15), and Judith Greenbaum, (31), who was pregnant at the time. A third American, Chana Nachenberg, has remained in a permanent vegetative state ever since.
Ms. Tamimi openly takes credit for her part in selecting the site of the attack and has bragged about it multiple times.
Ms. Tamimi was traded in October of 2011 for the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, as one of 1,027 terrorists with blood on their hands. When she was released to Jordan, she was welcomed like a conquering hero, showered with flowers and was even given her own weekly television show in Amman, sponsored by the terrorist group, Hamas, where she became a role model for future terrorists.
In March of 2017, the United States asked for Tamimi's extradition from Jordan to face a trial on our shores. The Jordanian government has refused, claiming that the U.S. has no Extradition Treaty with Jordan. It is the position of the American government that we do have an Extradition Treaty with the Hashemite Kingdom, and that it was signed on March 28, 1995.
The case of Ahlam Tamimi has been a major project EMET has been working on for years. Most recently, in April 2020, EMET collaborate with Congressman Greg Steube (Republican, Florida), and sent a letter to Ambassador Dina Kawar of Jordan, demanding the extradition of Ahlam Tamimi. The letter was signed by Representative Paul Gosar (Republican, Arizona), Ted Yoho (Republican, Florida), Doug Lamborn (Republican, Colorado), Brian Mast (Republican, Florida), Scott Perry (Republican, Pennsylvania), and Louie Gohmert (Republican, Texas).
EMET has had a very long history of advocating for justice for American victims of Palestinian terrorism, going all the way back to when their work had led Congress, in 2005, to open an office in the Department of Justice for American Victims of Overseas Terrorism. We will continue with our efforts despite this disappointing setback by INTERPOL.
Says EMET Founder and President, Sarah Stern, "We are outraged and stunned by this current decision by INTERPOL. There is absolutely no statute of limitations on murder. Has Ms. Tamimi repented? Has she been punished adequately for her heinous crimes? Has she refrained from boasting about her crimes and from making a very public profitable career out of them? Unfortunately, the answer to all of these questions remains in the negative. So, what has changed to make INTERPOL suddenly reverse Ms. Tamimi's status? This represents nothing short of a complete and total travesty of justice, and sends to would-be terrorists around the globe the message that yes, crime does pay and you can get away with murder."
Ms. Tamimi was the architect behind the Sbarro Pizzeria bombing on August 9, 2001, among the worst acts of terrorism Israel has experienced in modern history. Among those killed were two American citizens, Malki Roth, (15), and Judith Greenbaum, (31), who was pregnant at the time. A third American, Chana Nachenberg, has remained in a permanent vegetative state ever since.
Ms. Tamimi openly takes credit for her part in selecting the site of the attack and has bragged about it multiple times.
Ms. Tamimi was traded in October of 2011 for the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, as one of 1,027 terrorists with blood on their hands. When she was released to Jordan, she was welcomed like a conquering hero, showered with flowers and was even given her own weekly television show in Amman, sponsored by the terrorist group, Hamas, where she became a role model for future terrorists.
In March of 2017, the United States asked for Tamimi's extradition from Jordan to face a trial on our shores. The Jordanian government has refused, claiming that the U.S. has no Extradition Treaty with Jordan. It is the position of the American government that we do have an Extradition Treaty with the Hashemite Kingdom, and that it was signed on March 28, 1995.
The case of Ahlam Tamimi has been a major project EMET has been working on for years. Most recently, in April 2020, EMET collaborate with Congressman Greg Steube (Republican, Florida), and sent a letter to Ambassador Dina Kawar of Jordan, demanding the extradition of Ahlam Tamimi. The letter was signed by Representative Paul Gosar (Republican, Arizona), Ted Yoho (Republican, Florida), Doug Lamborn (Republican, Colorado), Brian Mast (Republican, Florida), Scott Perry (Republican, Pennsylvania), and Louie Gohmert (Republican, Texas).
EMET has had a very long history of advocating for justice for American victims of Palestinian terrorism, going all the way back to when their work had led Congress, in 2005, to open an office in the Department of Justice for American Victims of Overseas Terrorism. We will continue with our efforts despite this disappointing setback by INTERPOL.
Says EMET Founder and President, Sarah Stern, "We are outraged and stunned by this current decision by INTERPOL. There is absolutely no statute of limitations on murder. Has Ms. Tamimi repented? Has she been punished adequately for her heinous crimes? Has she refrained from boasting about her crimes and from making a very public profitable career out of them? Unfortunately, the answer to all of these questions remains in the negative. So, what has changed to make INTERPOL suddenly reverse Ms. Tamimi's status? This represents nothing short of a complete and total travesty of justice, and sends to would-be terrorists around the globe the message that yes, crime does pay and you can get away with murder."
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