A U.S. federal jury in Los Angeles convicted Samir Ousman Alsheikh, a former Syrian prison official, on charges of torture and immigration fraud related to abuses during Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Alsheikh, who led Damascus Central Prison (Adra Prison) from 2005 to 2008, faces up to 20 years in prison for each torture count when sentenced.
Conviction Marks First U.S. Trial of Assad-Era Official
The Justice Department announced Alsheikh’s conviction following a nine-day trial on one count of conspiracy to commit torture, three counts of torture, and immigration-related fraud. He was accused of ordering and personally participating in brutal practices against political prisoners, including beatings, suspension from ceilings, and the use of painful devices such as the “Magic Carpet.”
Alsheikh entered the United States in 2020 by allegedly falsifying information on his visa application and later sought U.S. citizenship. He was arrested in 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Beirut.
Investigation Supported by Syrian Advocacy Group
The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), a Washington-based advocacy organization, helped identify Alsheikh through open-source research and leaked Syrian government data. SETF worked with the FBI and Justice Department to connect investigators with witnesses who testified about the abuses at Adra Prison. They also advocated for torture charges rather than solely immigration violations to ensure broader accountability.
Witness Testimony Highlights Brutality Under Alsheikh
Mamoun al-Homsi, a former Syrian lawmaker and political prisoner at Adra, described Alsheikh’s tenure beginning in 2005 as marked by unprecedented brutality targeting detainees for their political views. Testimony during the trial included allegations that Alsheikh ordered a prisoner to poison al-Homsi, an order that was refused and followed by further torture of the prisoner.
Tysen Duva, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s criminal division, stated that the conviction was a result of “the courage and perseverance of the victims,” adding that Alsheikh can no longer evade responsibility for his actions in Syria.
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