Assad-era Syrian official jailed for 60 years by US court

Samir Ousman Alsheikh, a former senior Syrian government official who oversaw the Damascus Central Prison during the Assad regime, has been sentenced to 60 years in a US federal prison. The 74-year-old was convicted in March 2024 on charges of torture and conspiracy to commit torture, as well as for lying about his involvement in these crimes to US immigration authorities and attempting to become a naturalized citizen.

According to prosecutors, Alsheikh, who held positions in the state security apparatus, ordered subordinates to inflict physical and mental pain on prisoners to suppress opposition to the Assad government. The US justice department noted that Alsheikh is the highest-ranking former member of Assad's government to face trial and conviction outside Syria.

His legal team had requested a five-year sentence, but they expressed disappointment with the conviction. Khaled Abdul Malek, a witness who was tortured at Adra Prison, stated that the sentencing proves justice will eventually prevail, even if delayed. The trial marks the beginning of a path towards accountability and justice for those responsible for the bloodshed of innocent people.

The Syrian conflict, which lasted over a decade, led to the downfall of the Assad family in late 2024, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and a global refugee crisis. Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander, assumed power post-Assad and has been striving to improve relations with the West.