A former Syrian military official, Samir Ousman al-Sheikh, who oversaw a notorious prison where alleged human rights abuses took place, has been charged with several counts of torture and conspiracy to commit torture after being arrested in July for visa fraud charges.
Al-Sheikh, 72, was the head of Adra Prison from 2005 to 2008 under President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The prison was notorious for widespread abuses, including torture and arbitrary detention of thousands of people, many without informing their families.
The US federal grand jury charges stem from an indictment that alleges al-Sheikh ordered subordinates to inflict severe physical and mental pain on prisoners, including beatings and use of a device that folded prisoners’ bodies in half at the waist, resulting in fractured spines.
Al-Sheikh was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in July after his visa and citizenship applications were found to be fraudulent. He had denied on his applications that he had ever persecuted anyone in Syria.
Human rights groups and the United Nations have accused the Syrian government of widespread abuses, including torture and arbitrary detention. The Syrian government fell last Sunday, ending 50 years of rule by the Assad family.
“We welcome this development and see it as a major step toward justice,” said Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the US-based Syrian Emergency Task Force. “The United States will not allow war criminals to come and live in the United States without accountability, even if their victims were not US citizens.”
Al-Sheikh’s lawyer, Nina Marino, denied the charges, calling the case a “misguided use” of government resources and a “politically motivated and false accusation.” If convicted, al-Sheikh faces up to 20 years in prison.