Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda of Irbil, Iraq, has firmly rejected accusations made against him in a recent U.S. lawsuit alleging that he aided and abetted acts of international terrorism, including the kidnapping and torture of an Iraqi-American businesswoman during a time of political upheaval in Iraq.

“We categorically and unequivocally reject these false and defamatory accusations,” Archbishop Warda said in a statement provided to OSV News.

He emphasized his surprise upon learning he was named as a defendant in the civil suit filed in February by Sara Saleem, an Iraqi Kurd who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2020.

Saleem’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, names more than a dozen defendants including former business associates, current and former Iraqi officials, and Iranian-backed militant groups Hezbollah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH).

She alleges that in 2014, she was kidnapped and tortured by the militant groups in connection to a $100 million development loan she received from the Trade Bank of Iraq. According to the suit, her wealth and influence made her a target for extortion and violence.

Archbishop Warda is accused in the suit of facilitating the attack through alleged ties to the Babylon Brigades, a militia led by Rayan al-Kildani, and of obstructing Iraqi judicial proceedings by allegedly passing a bribe.

A spokesperson for the archbishop strongly refuted these claims, stating that Warda has long been an outspoken critic of militias and has advocated for justice and transparency in Iraq.

“This notion that he is somehow a supporter of militias flies in the face of everything he’s done publicly over the last 10 years to fight against the militias,” the spokesperson said, highlighting Warda’s 2019 address to the United Nations Security Council, where he called for free and fair elections and an end to corruption in Iraq.

According to the archbishop, his only contact with Saleem was a single phone conversation in which she sought informal mediation in a business dispute.

He described the exchange as respectful but ultimately fruitless. “We made efforts to bring the two parties closer… Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful,” he said.

Saleem’s attorney has not commented in detail on the lawsuit, noting only that his client may currently be traveling. Legal experts are divided on whether Saleem qualifies to bring a claim under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which allows American citizens to sue over terrorist acts.

While Saleem argues that citizenship at the time of the lawsuit is sufficient, some experts, including retired counterterrorism prosecutor Jeffrey Breinholt, disagree. “If you’re not a U.S. citizen at the time of the attack, you’re out of luck,” Breinholt told OSV News.

Archbishop Warda has pledged to vigorously contest the lawsuit. “We are confident the truth of this matter will be made clear in due course,” he said.

“The Church has never been — and will never be — a party that obstructs the path of justice. On the contrary, it remains a home for all people, and its mission continues to be one of reconciliation, justice, and peace.”