Former Syrian guard indicted on torture charges in US
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Bast Bramhall (Editor)
A former Syrian guard faces torture charges nearly 20 years after his alleged crimes. U.S. prosecutors called the allegations “chilling” and “heinous.”
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
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U.S. charges ex-head of Syrian prison with torture
Click to see story on The HinduFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on The IndependentFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Hindustan TimesFormer Syrian military official who oversaw notorious prison indicted in California on federal torture charges
Click to see story on CBS NewsFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on The Mercury newsSyria: Former head of Syrian torture prison indicted in USA
Click to see story on Zeit OnlineFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Le MondeSyria: Former head of Syrian Adra torture prison charged in the USA
Click to see story on SpiegelSyria: A former head of a prison in Damascus indicted for torture in the United States
Click to see story on TVA NouvellesFormer Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture in US
Click to see story on The JournalUS charges ex-head of Syrian prison with torture
Click to see story on Al-MonitorFormer head of notorious US Adra prison charged with torture
Click to see story on NRC HandelsbladSyria: Former prison head charged with torture in US
Click to see story on BBC NewsFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KIFIFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KVIAFormer Syrian prison official charged in US with torture
Click to see story on The HillUS charges ex-head of Syrian prison with torture
Click to see story on VOA NewsSyrian national living in S.C. charged with torturing dissidents at Damascus prison in 2000s
Click to see story on UPIEx-director of Syrian torture prison charged in USA
Click to see story on Deutsche WelleFormer head of prisons in Syria indicted in the US for torture
Click to see story on ANSAFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KOB 4US grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on WTVBFormer head of Syrian torture prison charged in the US
Click to see story on TagesschauWashington – Former head of Syrian prison indicted in US on torture charges
Click to see story on DeutschlandfunkFormer Syrian Official Arrested in California who Oversaw Prison Charged with Torture
Click to see story on Military.comFormer Syrian leader residing in Lexington County indicted on torture, human rights charges after applying for citizenship
Click to see story on WLTXFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KESQFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KMIZFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KIONFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on NewsdayFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KYMAFormer Syrian official charged with torture in L.A.
Click to see story on BNO NewsUS Charges Former Head Of Syria’s Adra Prison For Torturing Assad’s Opponents
Click to see story on News18 IndiaFormer Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture in US, faces decades in prison if convicted
Click to see story on Irish IndependentUS grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on The Straits TimesFormer Damascus prison chief accused of torture in the United States
Click to see story on ObservadorUS grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on Times LiveSyrian charged in US over torture in prison
Click to see story on NOSFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Winnipeg SunEx-Syrian military official indicted in California on torture charges
Click to see story on DNyuzUS grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on The Star Kuala LumpurJustice for victims, families in Syrian detention centers a ‘right and essential’: UN special envoy for Syria
Click to see story on Anadolu AjansıFormer Syrian prison chief charged in US with torture
Click to see story on De TelegraafFormer Syrian guard arrested in U.S., charged with torture
Click to see story on wng.orgRight
Untracked Bias
Former Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture in US
Click to see story on Shropshire StarUS charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on PerthNowSyria News: Former head of torture prison now charged in the USA
Click to see story on Berliner MorgenpostFormer head of Adra prison in Damascus charged with torture in US
Click to see story on Het NieuwsbladFormer Syrian prison chief indicted in the US for torture and human rights violations
Click to see story on Quotidiano NazionaleUS justice indicts former head of Syrian torture prison
Click to see story on rnd.deTorture charges against Syrian prison warden in USA
Click to see story on ORF.at NewsFormer director of notorious prison charged with torture in US
Click to see story on Ilta-SanomatEx-director of Syrian torture prison charged in USA
Click to see story on stern.deUS: Criminal prosecution for torture of former prison director in Damascus
Click to see story on in.grFormer Syrian prison chief arrested in US and charged with torture
Click to see story on VGThe UN envoy for Syria called for the immediate release of detained people from Syrian prisons
Click to see story on aktuality.skSyria: Former prison director faces prosecution for torture in US
Click to see story on CNN GreeceFormer Syrian prison chief charged in US with torture
Click to see story on rd.nlUS justice indicts former head of Syrian torture prison
Click to see story on LVZ – Leipziger VolkszeitungUS charges former Damascus prison chief with torture
Click to see story on القدس العربيU.S. Charges Former Syrian Prison Chief with Torture · Global Voices
Click to see story on El EconomistaCharges Filed Against Former Syrian Prison Director for Torture Crimes in the U.S. – The Global Herald
Click to see story on The Global HeraldUnited States Accuses Former Syrian Chief of Prison of Torture of Dissenters · Global Voices
Click to see story on ExcelsiorFormer Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture in US
Click to see story on Jersey Evening PostEx-Syrian military official indicted in California on torture charges
Click to see story on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600Former Syrian military official who oversaw notorious prison indicted in California on federal torture charges
Click to see story on PressNewsAgencyFormer Syria prison head charged with torture in US
Click to see story on AlKhaleej TodayFormer Syrian prison chief charged with torture in US court
Click to see story on Libyan ExpressFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Usa newsUN calls for access by independent observers to detention and torture centers of the overthrown Al Assad regime in Syria
Click to see story on MonitoreamosU.S. Accuses Former Syrian Prison Chief of Serious Torture of Al Asad Opponents · Global Voices
Click to see story on ALnavíoSTA: US accuses former Damascus prison chief of torture
Click to see story on sta.siEx-director of Syrian torture prison charged in USA
Click to see story on Badische Neueste NachrichtenUS: New Prosecution of Former Damascus Prison Director for Horrific Torture of Dissidents
Click to see story on www.ertnews.grEx-Damascus prison chief to face US torture trial
Click to see story on unn.uaUS grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture – Regional Media News
Click to see story on regionalmedianews.comNear East. Syria: Accused of torture, a former prison commander indicted in the United States
Click to see story on bienpublic.comUS charges ex-Syrian prison director with torture, visa fraud
Click to see story on EMEA Tribune, Breaking News, World News, Latest News, Top HeadlinesBLK ALERTS – Ex-Syrian military official indicted in California on torture charges
Click to see story on blkalerts.comFormer Syrian Prison Officer Charged With Torture In US Court
Click to see story on stratnewsglobal.comFormer Syria prison head charged with torture in US
Click to see story on dailynews.co.tzSamir Ousman Alsheikh moved to the U.S. in 2020 and lived in South Carolina. Documents from the indictment said the former prison guard led the Damascus Central Prison before migrating to America.
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A federal grand jury indicted the 72-year-old Thursday for allegedly torturing prisoners who opposed former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Allegations against Alsheikh
These allegations date back to 2005 when U.S. officials said Alsheikh had a hand in causing “severe physical and mental pain.”
Over three years, he allegedly sent prisoners to Adra Prison’s “Punishment Wing,” where guards inflicted abuse. Documents said guards beat prisoners while their bodies hung from the ceiling. Sometimes, guards used a torture device to fold prisoner bodies in half at the waist, possibly fracturing spines.
The Justice Department said these charges prove the U.S. will not allow war criminals to escape accountability.
“The victims of such violent treatment continue to suffer long after the physical acts of torture have ceased,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Authorities arrested Alsheikh at the Los Angeles airport for separate charges.
Prosecutors said Alsheikh hid his previous employment as a prison guard when applying for U.S. citizenship and a green card.
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Assad regime falls
The charges come after Syrian rebels overturned Assad’s government and condemned the years of torture thousands faced while imprisoned.
If convicted, Alsheikh could spend up to 50 years in prison for multiple counts of torture, immigration fraud and conspiracy to commit torture.
In a statement, Alsheikh’s lawyers denied the charges, calling them false and politically motivated.
[Karah Rucker]
A SYRIAN GUARD WILL FACE TORTURE CHARGES IN A CALIFORNIA COURTROOM NEARLY 20 YEARS AFTER HIS REPORTED CRIMES.
THE ALLEGATIONS BEING DESCRIBED BY PROSECUTORS AS “CHILLING” AND “HEINOUS”
SAMIR OUSMAN ALSHEIKH MOVED TO THE U-S IN 2020 AND WAS LIVING IN SOUTH CAROLINA…BUT BEFORE STARTING A NEW CHAPTER IN AMERICA…COURT DOCUMENTS SAY THE FORMER PRISON GUARD LED THE DAMASCUS CENTRAL PRISON.
A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTED THE 72 YEAR-OLD THURSDAY FOR TORTURING PRISONERS WHO OPPOSED SYRIA’S FORMER PRESIDENT BASHAR AL ASSAD.
THE CHARGES COME AS REBELS OVERTURNED ASSAD’S GOVERNMENT AND CONDEMNED THE YEARS OF TORTURE THOUSANDS FACED WHILE IMPRIOSNED.
THE ALLEGATIONS DATE BACK TO 2005, WHEN U-S OFFICIALS SAID ALSHEIKH HAD A HAND IN CAUSING “SEVERE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL PAIN”
OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS, HE ALLEGEDLY SENT PRISONERS TO WHAT WAS CALLED “THE PUNISHMENT WING.” THEY WERE THEN BEATEN WHILE THEIR BODIES WERE HUNG FROM THE CEILING…SOMETIMES FRACTURING THEIR SPINES
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID THESE CHARGES SHOW THE U-S WILL NOT ALLOW WAR CRIMINALS TO ESCAPE ACCOUNTABILITY. “The victims of such violent treatment continue to suffer long after the physical acts of torture have ceased.”
LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS FIRST ALERTED TO ALSHEIKH WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED AT THE LOS ANGELES AIRPORT ON SEPARATE CHARGES. PROSECUTORS SAID ALSHEIKH HID HIS PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT AS A PRISON GUARD WHEN APPLYING FOR U-S CITIZENSHIP AND A GREEN CARD.
IF CONVICTED, ALSHEIKH COULD SPEND UP TO FIFTY YEARS IN PRISON FOR MULTLIPLECOUNTS OF TORTURE, IMMIGRATION FRAUD AND CONSPIRARY TO COMMIT TORTURE.
HIS LAWYERS SAID HE DENIES THE CHARGES, CALLING THEM FALSE AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KARAH RUCKER.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
U.S. charges ex-head of Syrian prison with torture
Click to see story on The HinduFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on The IndependentFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Hindustan TimesFormer Syrian military official who oversaw notorious prison indicted in California on federal torture charges
Click to see story on CBS NewsFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on The Mercury newsSyria: Former head of Syrian torture prison indicted in USA
Click to see story on Zeit OnlineFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Le MondeSyria: Former head of Syrian Adra torture prison charged in the USA
Click to see story on SpiegelSyria: A former head of a prison in Damascus indicted for torture in the United States
Click to see story on TVA NouvellesFormer Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture in US
Click to see story on The JournalUS charges ex-head of Syrian prison with torture
Click to see story on Al-MonitorFormer head of notorious US Adra prison charged with torture
Click to see story on NRC HandelsbladSyria: Former prison head charged with torture in US
Click to see story on BBC NewsFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KIFIFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KVIAFormer Syrian prison official charged in US with torture
Click to see story on The HillUS charges ex-head of Syrian prison with torture
Click to see story on VOA NewsSyrian national living in S.C. charged with torturing dissidents at Damascus prison in 2000s
Click to see story on UPIEx-director of Syrian torture prison charged in USA
Click to see story on Deutsche WelleFormer head of prisons in Syria indicted in the US for torture
Click to see story on ANSAFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KOB 4US grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on WTVBFormer head of Syrian torture prison charged in the US
Click to see story on TagesschauWashington – Former head of Syrian prison indicted in US on torture charges
Click to see story on DeutschlandfunkFormer Syrian Official Arrested in California who Oversaw Prison Charged with Torture
Click to see story on Military.comFormer Syrian leader residing in Lexington County indicted on torture, human rights charges after applying for citizenship
Click to see story on WLTXFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KESQFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KMIZFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KIONFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on NewsdayFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on KYMAFormer Syrian official charged with torture in L.A.
Click to see story on BNO NewsUS Charges Former Head Of Syria’s Adra Prison For Torturing Assad’s Opponents
Click to see story on News18 IndiaFormer Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture in US, faces decades in prison if convicted
Click to see story on Irish IndependentUS grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on The Straits TimesFormer Damascus prison chief accused of torture in the United States
Click to see story on ObservadorUS grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on Times LiveSyrian charged in US over torture in prison
Click to see story on NOSFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Winnipeg SunEx-Syrian military official indicted in California on torture charges
Click to see story on DNyuzUS grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on The Star Kuala LumpurJustice for victims, families in Syrian detention centers a ‘right and essential’: UN special envoy for Syria
Click to see story on Anadolu AjansıFormer Syrian prison chief charged in US with torture
Click to see story on De TelegraafFormer Syrian guard arrested in U.S., charged with torture
Click to see story on wng.orgRight
Untracked Bias
Former Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture in US
Click to see story on Shropshire StarUS charges former Syrian prison official with torture
Click to see story on PerthNowSyria News: Former head of torture prison now charged in the USA
Click to see story on Berliner MorgenpostFormer head of Adra prison in Damascus charged with torture in US
Click to see story on Het NieuwsbladFormer Syrian prison chief indicted in the US for torture and human rights violations
Click to see story on Quotidiano NazionaleUS justice indicts former head of Syrian torture prison
Click to see story on rnd.deTorture charges against Syrian prison warden in USA
Click to see story on ORF.at NewsFormer director of notorious prison charged with torture in US
Click to see story on Ilta-SanomatEx-director of Syrian torture prison charged in USA
Click to see story on stern.deUS: Criminal prosecution for torture of former prison director in Damascus
Click to see story on in.grFormer Syrian prison chief arrested in US and charged with torture
Click to see story on VGThe UN envoy for Syria called for the immediate release of detained people from Syrian prisons
Click to see story on aktuality.skSyria: Former prison director faces prosecution for torture in US
Click to see story on CNN GreeceFormer Syrian prison chief charged in US with torture
Click to see story on rd.nlUS justice indicts former head of Syrian torture prison
Click to see story on LVZ – Leipziger VolkszeitungUS charges former Damascus prison chief with torture
Click to see story on القدس العربيU.S. Charges Former Syrian Prison Chief with Torture · Global Voices
Click to see story on El EconomistaCharges Filed Against Former Syrian Prison Director for Torture Crimes in the U.S. – The Global Herald
Click to see story on The Global HeraldUnited States Accuses Former Syrian Chief of Prison of Torture of Dissenters · Global Voices
Click to see story on ExcelsiorFormer Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture in US
Click to see story on Jersey Evening PostEx-Syrian military official indicted in California on torture charges
Click to see story on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600Former Syrian military official who oversaw notorious prison indicted in California on federal torture charges
Click to see story on PressNewsAgencyFormer Syria prison head charged with torture in US
Click to see story on AlKhaleej TodayFormer Syrian prison chief charged with torture in US court
Click to see story on Libyan ExpressFormer Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Click to see story on Usa newsUN calls for access by independent observers to detention and torture centers of the overthrown Al Assad regime in Syria
Click to see story on MonitoreamosU.S. Accuses Former Syrian Prison Chief of Serious Torture of Al Asad Opponents · Global Voices
Click to see story on ALnavíoSTA: US accuses former Damascus prison chief of torture
Click to see story on sta.siEx-director of Syrian torture prison charged in USA
Click to see story on Badische Neueste NachrichtenUS: New Prosecution of Former Damascus Prison Director for Horrific Torture of Dissidents
Click to see story on www.ertnews.grEx-Damascus prison chief to face US torture trial
Click to see story on unn.uaUS grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture – Regional Media News
Click to see story on regionalmedianews.comNear East. Syria: Accused of torture, a former prison commander indicted in the United States
Click to see story on bienpublic.comUS charges ex-Syrian prison director with torture, visa fraud
Click to see story on EMEA Tribune, Breaking News, World News, Latest News, Top HeadlinesBLK ALERTS – Ex-Syrian military official indicted in California on torture charges
Click to see story on blkalerts.comFormer Syrian Prison Officer Charged With Torture In US Court
Click to see story on stratnewsglobal.comFormer Syria prison head charged with torture in US
Click to see story on dailynews.co.tzStraight to your inbox.
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