Pfizer and AstraZeneca under suspicion .. “supporting terrorism in Iraq”

Hezbollah militia The Lebanese government was in control of the Iraqi Ministry of Health, and that the defendants, 21 American and European companies for medical supplies and equipment, had offered bribes to obtain contracts for medical supplies. The companies denied any wrongdoing.

Representatives of the five companies said, AstraZeneca and J.E. US HealthCare Holdings, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Hoffmann-La Roche, in a joint statement: "Additional actions will show that companies are not responsible in any way".

The lawsuit, revived by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, was filed by family members of victims of attacks in Iraq before "Mahdi Army group". A federal judge dismissed that lawsuit in 2020.

There was no immediate comment from attorney Kanon Shanmugam, who handled the defense before the Court of Appeal on behalf of the companies. The family members’ lawyer, Joshua Branson, has also not commented yet.

The companies’ lawyers told the Court of Appeal that they submitted to the Iraqi government "Lifesaving breast cancer treatments, hemophilia injections, ultrasound machines, EKGs, and other medical equipment"After the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled President Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Shanmugam said in court last September, that the ruling against the companies "It would have a deeply chilling effect on the willingness of businesses and NGOs to conduct essential activities, often at the request of the government, in areas experiencing turmoil.".

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Prosecutors assert that what is known as the “Mahdi Army Group”, backed by Hezbollah militia The Lebanese government was in control of the Iraqi Ministry of Health, and that the defendants, 21 American and European companies for medical supplies and equipment, had offered bribes to obtain contracts for medical supplies. The companies denied any wrongdoing.

Representatives of the five companies said, AstraZeneca and J.E. US HealthCare Holdings, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Hoffmann-La Roche, said in a joint statement: “The additional measures will in no way demonstrate the companies’ irresponsibility.”

The lawsuit, which was revived by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, was filed by family members of victims of the attacks in Iraq by “Mahdi Army groupThis lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge in 2020.

There was no immediate comment from attorney Kanon Shanmugam, who handled the defense before the Court of Appeal on behalf of the companies. The family members’ lawyer, Joshua Branson, has also not commented yet.

The companies’ lawyers told the appeals court that they provided the Iraqi government with “life-saving breast cancer treatments, hemophilia injections, ultrasounds, EKGs and other medical equipment” after the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled President Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Shanmugam said in court last September that the ruling against the companies “would have a deeply chilling effect on the willingness of companies and NGOs to conduct essential activities, often at the request of the government, in areas experiencing turmoil”.