Former head of Syrian prison sentenced to 60 years in US — Asharq Al-Awsat
A federal judge in the United States sentenced 74-year-old Samir Othman Alsheikh, the former head of Damascus Central Prison, to 60 years in prison in a case involving torture and immigration fraud. Asharq Al-Awsat reported this, citing the US Department of Justice.
Sentence in the torture case
In March, a jury found Alsheikh guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit torture, three counts of torture, visa fraud, and attempted fraud during naturalization.
According to the US Department of Justice, Alsheikh has been in the United States since 2020. He was also found guilty of immigration fraud because he lied about his past in order to enter the United States.
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Testimony of former prisoners
According to AFP, Alsheikh allegedly headed Damascus Central Prison, known as Adra Prison, around 2005–2008. The source states that prisoners in the so-called punishment wing were subjected to ill-treatment.
During the trial, three former prisoners testified about the violence they suffered at the hands of Alsheikh, as well as the torture of other prisoners. US Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said that the guilty verdict was a testament to the courage of the victims.
Duva also stressed that the United States would not become a safe haven for human rights violators arriving in the country and that they would be sought, prosecuted, and punished for their crimes.
