Kurdish-American Businesswoman Sara Saleem Pledges to Donate Portion of Litigation Proceeds to Soldiers and Veterans

Washington, DC, March 30, 2026 — Amsterdam & Partners LLP today announces that Sara Hameed Saleem, to whom it serves as legal counsel along with the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, has made a public commitment to donate forty percent of any net proceeds obtained through her ongoing lawsuit in the United States to charitable organisations supporting members of the United States Armed Forces who were wounded in combat during the Iraq and ISIS wars, and to the families of service members who lost their lives.

Ms. Saleem, a US citizen of Iraqi Kurdish descent, is pursuing legal action over her 2014 kidnapping and torture in Iraq, as well as ongoing attempts to coerce her into surrendering her lawful property and business interests. At the time of her abduction, she was leading a major infrastructure project in Iraq as part of the country’s broader post-war reconstruction efforts.

Ms. Saleem’s abduction and torture were carried out by members of Iraqi based US designated terrorist organisations, backed by Iran, in coordination with her former business partners and officials at the highest levels of the Iraqi government and judiciary. Her lawsuit seeks accountability for these acts and highlights wider concerns regarding corruption and the influence of Iran-aligned networks within Iraq’s judiciary, best represented by the country’s Chief Justice, Faiq Zaidan.

Ms. Saleem is making her charitable intentions public as a gesture of good faith, and plans to soon submit a written pledge to the court formalizing her commitment to making this donation.

Robert Amsterdam, Founder and Managing Partner of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, states that:

“This pledge reflects not only Ms. Saleem’s personal integrity, but also a clear recognition of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, including those who helped make possible the very reconstruction efforts she was once involved with in Iraq.

What makes this case so disturbing is that someone who answered the call to rebuild has instead been subjected to kidnapping, torture and a campaign of judicial retaliation. Her decision to dedicate a substantial portion of any recovery to veterans, particularly those wounded in Iraq, demonstrates her commitment to giving back to those who served.”

Akiva Shapiro, Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, states:

“Sara Saleem’s selfless pledge only reinforces her status as a true American hero who is standing up for all victims of terrorism and Iranian regime-backed violence in Iraq and its environs, especially members of the US Armed Forces. I am proud that the wheels of justice are finally turning in the right direction for Ms. Saleem and her family.”

Amsterdam & Partners LLP is an international law firm specialised in political advocacy and human rights, based in London and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.amsterdamandpartners.com. Media enquiries may be directed to contact@amsterdamandpartners.com.   

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