Adriana Camisar, B’nai B’rith International special advisor for Latin American Affairs and the U.N., spoke with Iton Gadol about the organization’s strong support for the Argentine government’s decision to send a bill to Congress that would enable “Trials in Absentia” in cases involving crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide – legislation introduced 30 years after the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires.

Read in Iton Gadol.

In the week that marks the 30th anniversary of the AMIA attack, B’nai B’rith International special advisor for Latin American Affairs and the U.N., Adriana Camisar, highlighted in an interview with Iton Gadol that the organization strongly supports the recent announcement by the government to send a bill to Congress to finally adopt Trial in Absentia in Argentina.

“A possible conviction in absentia would facilitate possible extradition requests by the Argentine justice system when the accused are outside Iran,” she said.

What does the 30th anniversary of the AMIA attack mean for B’nai B’rith International?

For B’nai B’rith International, the fact that 30 years have passed without justice is a catastrophe and a great moral failure, both for Argentina and for all countries and organizations that should join forces to prevent impunity from prevailing.

What work has B’nai B’rith International done during these 30 years?

Because of our presence in Argentina, B’nai B’rith followed the case from the very beginning: from the first investigation (which was riddled with incompetence and corruption); through all the years in which Prosecutor Nisman was in charge of the investigation; the signing of the shameful pact with Iran; and the terrible murder of Prosecutor Nisman. Today more than ever, it is essential to correct this course and finally achieve justice.

What is the organization’s view on the trial in absentia?

For many years, B’nai B’rith has supported the adoption of the Trial in Absentia procedure in Argentina, because we believe that it is the only way to achieve some measure of justice in the case. And that is why we look very favorably on the recent announcement by the government (through the Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich and the Minister of Justice Mariano Cuneo Libarona) to send a bill to Congress so that this procedural institute is finally adopted in our legislation.

This procedural mechanism would allow those accused of planning and carrying out this terrible attack to be tried, even if they continue to refuse to appear before Argentine courts. The institution of trial in absentia exists in other countries with serious legal systems, such as France or Italy. And it is not unconstitutional because it gives the defendant the possibility of appearing even after the sentence has been handed down, and reopening the case, with ample opportunities to present evidence and defend himself.

The point we have always made is that those accused of having perpetrated this horrible attack have voluntarily evaded Argentine justice for too long; and that the constitutional guarantees of a democratic State like Argentina should not be used in such an abusive manner as to end up serving to guarantee impunity for a crime of such magnitude.

It is clear that the accused are being protected by the Iranian regime and will never be brought before the Argentine courts. Time passes, people die and evidence is lost. It is essential to do something about this. The families of the victims, the survivors, and all of Argentine society deserve a trial and the truth to be known at last.

A possible conviction in absentia would facilitate possible extradition requests by the Argentine justice system when the accused are outside Iran.

But above all, the adoption of Trial in Absentia would put Argentina at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and make our country a safer place.