US federal jury convicts Assad-era Syrian official of torture

A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted a former Syrian government official, who headed the Damascus Central Prison under the government of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, of torture, the U.S. Justice Department said on Monday.



Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 73, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and three counts of torture for his involvement in the torture of prisoners at Adra Prison as it is colloquially known, in Damascus, the Justice Department said in a statement.



Alsheikh, who headed the prison from 2005 to 2008, had pleaded not guilty, according to a court filing. His legal representatives did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.



The jury also convicted Alsheikh of lying to U.S. immigration authorities about his commission of these crimes, fraudulently obtaining a green card and attempting to naturalize as a U.S. citizen, the department added.



He was charged in late 2024 and prosecutors said he ordered subordinates to inflict severe physical and mental pain and suffering on political and other prisoners. He was sometimes personally involved in such incidents, according to the U.S. Justice Department.