Infamous Prison Warden Under Assad Charged with Torture in the U.S.

December 14, 2024 TruthUSA

A former prison director under the regime of former Syrian leader Assad has been indicted in a U.S. federal court on a variety of charges, including multiple counts of torture.

The former head of a notorious prison during the administration of Bashar al-Assad is accused of torturing political opponents and other inmates to suppress dissent against the Assad regime.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has charged Samir Ousman Alsheikh with several counts of torture and additional offenses, according to an announcement made by authorities on Thursday.

A new indictment issued on Thursday includes three additional counts of torture and a charge of conspiracy to commit torture, supplementing the original charges against the former official.

Alsheikh, 72, was arrested and detained in July at Los Angeles International Airport on charges of visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security. He had purchased a one-way ticket to leave Los Angeles for Beirut, Lebanon on July 10.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Alsheikh allegedly concealed his past employment at the prison and his role in the abuse of prisoners when applying for U.S. citizenship in 2023. He is also accused of having made similar false statements in his visa application to enter the United States and in his attempt to obtain a green card in 2020.

Court documents indicate that Alsheikh was in charge of Damascus Central Prison from around 2005 to 2008. During his tenure at the prison, commonly referred to as Adra Prison, he allegedly instructed his subordinates to inflict both physical and psychological suffering on inmates, including those jailed for political motives.

“Our client categorically denies these politically motivated and unfounded allegations,” stated his attorney, Nina Marino, in an email to AP.

In 2008, the U.S. State Department issued a report warning about increasing human rights violations in Syria, claiming that members of the nation’s security forces detained individuals without trial and subjected them to torture and physical violence.

The DHS noted that Alsheikh would send inmates to the “punishment wing” where they would be suspended from the ceiling by their arms and beaten. Additionally, inmates could be subjected to a torture apparatus known as the “flying carpet,” which involved folding them in half at the waist, causing extreme pain and sometimes resulting in fractured spines.

“The allegations outlined in this new indictment regarding severe human rights violations are disturbing,” remarked U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.

The former official held various roles in the Syrian police and the state security system and was affiliated with the Syrian Ba’ath Party, which has governed the country since 1963.

He was appointed governor of the Deir Ez-Zour province by Assad in 2011.

Alsheikh emigrated to the U.S. in 2020 and applied for citizenship in 2023, providing a Lexington, South Carolina address as his last known residence.

“The accusations in this new indictment expose unforgivable crimes and a blatant breach of human rights,” stated Chad Yarbrough, Assistant Director of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.

If convicted on all charges, Alsheikh could face a sentence of up to 100 years in prison. His attorney did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since mid-2012.

Recently, the Syrian government under Assad collapsed following a rebel offensive, marking the end of a 50-year regime, with the former president seeking refuge in Russia, where he was granted asylum.

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