EchoEagle2
Well-known member
US Jury Finds French Bank Complicit in Sudan Atrocities, Awarding Damages to Victims
A New York jury has delivered a verdict holding French bank BNP Paribas liable for its role in propping up the regime of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was accused of overseeing atrocities that left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. The eight-member jury awarded $20.75 million in damages to three plaintiffs from Sudan, who testified about their traumatic experiences under Bashir's rule.
The trial centered on whether BNP Paribas's financial services contributed to the harm suffered by survivors of ethnic cleansing and mass violence in Sudan. According to the bank, its work in Sudan was a "natural and adequate cause" for the victims' suffering, but the jury rejected this argument.
The plaintiffs described being tortured, burned with cigarettes, slashed with knives, and subjected to sexual assault. One survivor, Entesar Osman Kasher, told the court that she had lost all her relatives.
BNP Paribas has denied any wrongdoing and claims that its operations in Sudan were legal under European law. However, lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the bank's actions facilitated the regime's ability to export goods and receive billions of dollars from buyers, ultimately enabling Bashir's brutal rule.
The jury's verdict is seen as a significant victory for justice and accountability. "Financial institutions cannot turn a blind eye to the consequences of their actions," said Bobby DiCello, who represented the plaintiffs.
The ruling comes at a time when Sudan is embroiled in a civil war that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions more. The International Criminal Court has issued warrants for Bashir's arrest on genocide charges, but he remains in detention after being ousted from power in 2019.
BNP Paribas's CEO has vowed to appeal the verdict, which is seen as a major blow to the bank's reputation. The jury's decision underscores the need for global institutions and corporations to take responsibility for their actions and ensure that they do not inadvertently enable human rights abuses.
A New York jury has delivered a verdict holding French bank BNP Paribas liable for its role in propping up the regime of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was accused of overseeing atrocities that left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. The eight-member jury awarded $20.75 million in damages to three plaintiffs from Sudan, who testified about their traumatic experiences under Bashir's rule.
The trial centered on whether BNP Paribas's financial services contributed to the harm suffered by survivors of ethnic cleansing and mass violence in Sudan. According to the bank, its work in Sudan was a "natural and adequate cause" for the victims' suffering, but the jury rejected this argument.
The plaintiffs described being tortured, burned with cigarettes, slashed with knives, and subjected to sexual assault. One survivor, Entesar Osman Kasher, told the court that she had lost all her relatives.
BNP Paribas has denied any wrongdoing and claims that its operations in Sudan were legal under European law. However, lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the bank's actions facilitated the regime's ability to export goods and receive billions of dollars from buyers, ultimately enabling Bashir's brutal rule.
The jury's verdict is seen as a significant victory for justice and accountability. "Financial institutions cannot turn a blind eye to the consequences of their actions," said Bobby DiCello, who represented the plaintiffs.
The ruling comes at a time when Sudan is embroiled in a civil war that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions more. The International Criminal Court has issued warrants for Bashir's arrest on genocide charges, but he remains in detention after being ousted from power in 2019.
BNP Paribas's CEO has vowed to appeal the verdict, which is seen as a major blow to the bank's reputation. The jury's decision underscores the need for global institutions and corporations to take responsibility for their actions and ensure that they do not inadvertently enable human rights abuses.
but i gotta say, $20.75 million seems like a drop in the bucket considering what these ppl went through 
Sudan has been through so much trauma & instability it's hard to comprehend the scale of it. and what about the other banks that worked with bashir's regime? shouldn't they be held accountable too? 
this verdict is definitely a step in the right direction, but we need more action taken against these financial institutions to make them take responsibility for their actions 
like i'm all about nostalgia but it's cool to see some old-school bank get roasted for their role in enabling all that brutal stuff in sudan 
i mean i can understand why the plaintiffs are mad, they went through hell and now they're getting some justice. $20 million ain't gonna bring back the dead fam 
but it's a start.
newsflash bnp paribas: you can't spin your way out of this one. the jury saw right through your "natural and adequate cause" BS, and now it's time for you to own up to what went down 
like we're finally starting to hold these big corporations accountable for their actions. it's long overdue, but better late than never 
just saw this news and i'm feeling so much hope 
its about time someone held french bank accountable for the atrocities that happened in sudan, its amazing to see justice being served 
these ppl who were tortured and suffered have finally gotten some closure and 20 mil dollars wont make it back but at least they know there are ppl like bobby dicello fighting for them 
, finally someone's holding those big corps accountable for their actions! BNP Paribas gotta be shakin' in their boots right now 
. Those plaintiffs told some pretty harrowing stories about what happened under Bashir's rule, and the bank's actions are basically just enabling that kind of mess 
.
. It's about time someone took on the big boys and made them answer for their actions! 
Justice has finally caught up with those responsible for such heinous crimes! 
I'm so proud of the survivors who came forward and shared their stories, it's heartbreaking but we need to amplify their voices! 
This verdict sends a strong message that nobody is above accountability, not even powerful financial institutions! 
, and now a US Jury is holding French Bank BNP Paribas accountable for enabling the atrocities 
. This ruling shows that victims of human rights abuses have a voice and can take action against those who enabled their suffering 
.
, but the jury saw through that 
. 
, and it sets a precedent for global institutions and corporations to take responsibility for their actions 
. The fact that the jury finally held them accountable is a major win for justice, imo 
. We need more of these types of verdicts to hold corporations and institutions responsible for their actions 
. It's not like it's rocket science, folks... if you're profiting off human rights abuses, you gotta answer for it