Former Syrian Prison Official Faces U.S. Torture Charges

Samir Ousman Alsheikh, a former head of Syria's notorious Adra Prison, has been charged by a U.S. federal grand jury with torture and conspiracy to commit torture, along with previous charges of visa and naturalization fraud. Alsheikh, who led the prison from 2005 to 2008, allegedly ordered and personally inflicted severe physical and mental pain on prisoners, particularly those opposing Bashar al-Assad's regime, using methods like a 'Punishment Wing' and a device known as the 'Flying Carpet'. He immigrated to the U.S. in 2020 and applied for citizenship in 2023, allegedly concealing his past crimes. This indictment follows the recent collapse of Assad's regime, with Alsheikh arrested in July at the Los Angeles airport as he attempted to flee the country. U.S. authorities are committed to denying refuge to human rights violators, viewing this case as a step towards justice for victims of Assad's regime.