ALBAWABA - Los Angeles Samir Othman al-Sheikh, a former senior official of the overthrown Bashar al-Assad government, will go on trial in the United States on allegations of ordering and taking part in torture in Damascus' Adra Prison.
A federal jury in Los Angeles revealed the charge, which reveals grave violations of human rights that occurred when he served as warden from 2005 to 2008.
According to the charges, inmates in Adra Prison's "punishment wing" endured severe forms of torture, such as beatings and ceiling suspensions. According to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, the accusations are "profoundly disturbing," underscoring the seriousness of the offenses.
Two other Syrian officers have also been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with torturing people at a military installation in Damascus. These accusations are a component of larger initiatives to remedy abuses of human rights committed by the Assad government.
In July 2024, Al-Sheikh was taken into custody in Los Angeles. According to reports, he lied on his 2023 application for U.S. citizenship, denying any criminal activity or involvement in violations of human rights while serving in Syria. He has lived in Los Angeles since 2020.
Former inmates at Adra Prison, which was supervised by Al-Sheikh from 2005 to 2008, described horrific mistreatment, including sexual violence, physical abuse, and malnutrition. Many prisoners died under appalling conditions or waited years for a trial.
While serving as governor of Deir ez-Zor from 2011 to 2013, al-Sheikh was connected to actions by government forces that murdered 3,933 people, including 261 women and 312 children. These acts took place in the midst of Syria's bloody crackdown on the opposition.
The trial, which is anticipated to get a great deal of international attention, highlights the drive to hold people accountable for atrocities committed during the Syrian crisis. It is a pivotal point in the fight for justice for those harmed by the Assad dictatorship.
