LOS ANGELES — A former Syrian military official, who played a significant role in overseeing a notorious prison associated with human rights violations, has been indicted on several charges of torture. This follows his arrest in July on allegations of visa fraud, according to officials.
Samir Ousman al-Sheikh, who managed Syria’s Adra Prison from 2005 to 2008 during the regime of the ousted President Bashar Assad, is facing multiple counts of torture and conspiracy to commit torture, as detailed by a federal grand jury.
Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force based in the U.S., expressed that this development marks a significant advance towards justice. He stated, “Samir Ousman al-Sheikh’s trial will reiterate that the United States will not allow war criminals to come and live in the United States without accountability, even if their victims were not U.S. citizens.”
Federal authorities apprehended al-Sheikh, 72, at Los Angeles International Airport on July 10 as he attempted to leave for Beirut, Lebanon. He reportedly lied on his U.S. visa and citizenship applications, denying any history of persecution in Syria, which led to the charges of immigration fraud.
Numerous human rights organizations and officials from the United Nations have accused the Syrian regime of widespread mistreatment and torture within its detention centers, where thousands have been arbitrarily detained often without notification to their families.
A recent rebel offensive culminated in the fall of the Assad government, ending a 50-year reign and prompting the former president to seek refuge in Russia. In the aftermath, insurgents have liberated tens of thousands of detainees from various prisons across the nation.
In his capacity as the Adra Prison chief, al-Sheikh is alleged to have both ordered and participated in the severe physical and psychological torment of inmates. He reportedly directed prisoners to the “Punishment Wing,” where they faced brutal beatings while suspended, and were subjected to devices that contorted their bodies, often leading to severe injuries such as fractured spines.
His lawyer, Nina Marino, described the accusations as politically motivated and misguided, asserting that prosecuting al-Sheikh—who is a foreign national for actions purportedly committed outside of the U.S.—represents a misuse of government resources.
In a parallel investigation, U.S. officials have indicted two other Syrian officials for operating a torture facility at the Mezzeh air force base in Damascus. This indictment alleges that the torture affected not only Syrians but also dual citizens and Americans, including 26-year-old aid worker Layla Shweikani.
Federal authorities have issued arrest warrants for these officials, who are still at large. Earlier this year, a French court sentenced three senior Syrian officials in absentia to life imprisonment for their roles in war crimes, marking a significant case against Assad’s regime in Europe.
Al-Sheikh’s professional history includes working in police command posts and transitioning to Syria’s state security services that focused on repressing political dissent. He was appointed the governor of Deir ez-Zour in 2011, during which time he managed severe crackdowns on protestors.
The indictment reveals that al-Sheikh immigrated to the U.S. in 2020 and applied for citizenship in 2023. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years for the conspiracy to commit torture and each of three torture charges, alongside potential 10-year sentences for each of two counts related to immigration fraud.
