US court sentences ex-Syrian official who ran notorious ‘punishment wing’ to 60 years
A US federal court in Los Angeles sentenced former Syrian official Samir Ousman al-Sheikh to 60 years in prison for his role in overseeing torture at Adra prison. Al-Sheikh, who served as the prison head from 2005 to 2008, was convicted of torturing prisoners and committing immigration fraud after moving to the United States in 2020. This marks the most significant punishment handed to an official of the ousted Assad regime by a foreign court for a defendant present in person.
- ▪Samir Ousman al-Sheikh was sentenced to 60 years in prison by a US federal court for his involvement in torture at Adra prison.
- ▪Al-Sheikh was the head of Adra prison between 2005 and 2008, where he oversaw an underground punishment wing known as Wing 13.
- ▪The defendant moved to the US in 2020, obtained a green card, and was arrested in 2024 on charges of immigration fraud and torture.
- ▪This is the first trial in the US for an official of the Assad regime and the highest-ranking regime official tried in person anywhere in the world.
- ▪Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher were sentenced to death in absentia by Syria's new government in August 2026 for crimes against humanity.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/court-sentence-ex-syrian-official |
| Publication time | Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:59:44 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-18T00:13:44.584Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-18T00:13:44.584Z |
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Photograph depicting Alsheikh and Bashar al-Assad on or about July 25, 2011, when Assad appointed Alsheikh Photograph: US Department of JusticeView image in fullscreenPhotograph depicting Alsheikh and Bashar al-Assad on or about July 25, 2011, when Assad appointed Alsheikh Photograph: US Department of JusticeUS newsUS court sentences ex-Syrian official who ran notorious ‘punishment wing’ to 60 yearsSamir Ousman al-Sheikh, part of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, was in charge of Adra prison where prisoners were torturedAlice SperiThu 17 Sep 2026 19.59 EDTLast modified on Thu 17 Sep 2026 20.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on Google This article contains descriptions of torture.
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