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A former Syrian authorities official has been indicted on torture costs by a Los Angeles grand jury, the US Division of Justice has introduced.

Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, of Lexington, South Carolina, was reportedly the pinnacle of the Damascus Central Jail — colloquially often called Adra Jail — between 2005 and 2008.

Whereas he was main the jail, Alsheikh allegedly ordered his subordinates to ship “extreme bodily and psychological ache and struggling on political and different prisoners,” in accordance with a DOJ assertion. Courtroom paperwork allege that Alsheikh himself additionally participated in torture classes.

The jail reportedly had a “punishment wing” the place prisoners have been despatched to be overwhelmed whereas they have been dangled from the ceiling. Prisoners have been additionally reportedly subjected to a tool colloquially known as the “Flying Carpet” which folded their our bodies in half, inflicting excruciating ache and generally spinal fractures.

“Samir Alsheikh is charged with torturing political dissidents and different prisoners to discourage opposition to the regime of then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,” mentioned Principal Deputy Assistant Legal professional Normal Nicole Argentieri, head of the Justice Division’s Legal Division. “Alsheikh later allegedly lied about his crimes to acquire a U.S. inexperienced card.”

The “victims of such violent therapy proceed to endure lengthy after the bodily acts of torture have ceased,” Argenteiri added. “The Justice Division is dedicated to prosecuting perpetrators of such crimes and won’t permit them, by means of lies and concealment, to cover in the USA.”

US Legal professional Martin Estrada mentioned the “grave human rights abuses” within the indictment have been “chilling.”

“Our nation is not going to be a secure harbor for these accused of committing atrocities overseas,” he mentioned.

Alsheikh held a number of positions within the Syrain police and state safety forces, and later as the pinnacle of a regional authorities. In 2011, now-ousted Syrian chief Bashar al-Assad appointed him the pinnacle of the Deir Ez-Zour province. Immigration paperwork report that Alsheikh immigrated to the US in 2020, and utilized for his US citizenship in 2023.

“With regards to pursuing our felony investigations, Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) has a protracted attain and a fair longer reminiscence,” mentioned Particular Agent in Cost Eddy Wang of the HSI Los Angeles Area workplace.

“The defendant is accused of torturing prisoners in Syria virtually 20 years in the past, and as we speak, we’re one step nearer to holding him accountable for these heinous crimes. The US won’t ever be a secure haven for individuals who commit human rights abuses overseas,” he added.

Alsheikh had alreay been charged with visa fraud and, tried naturalization fraud costs previous to the indictment. The indictment provides three counts of torture, and one rely of conspiracy to commit torture to his costs.

The previous jail chief faces as much as 20 years in jail for the conspiracy to commit torture costs, and a most penalty of 20 years in jail for every of the three torture costs. He may obtain a most of 10 years in jail for his immigration fraud costs.

The indictment follows Assad’s regime collapsed following an offensive led by opposition forces which have been battling for management of Syria since 2011.

Following the autumn of Assad , political prisoners inside his regime’s prisons have been launched en masse, revealing proof of surprising and disturbing human rights abuses inside.