Syria’s northeast Damascus facility housing political and civil detainees
A U.S. federal judge has sentenced Samir Ousman Alsheikh, a former head of Adra Prison in Syria, to a lengthy term after conviction on torture and immigration fraud charges. He was found guilty in March of conspiracy to commit torture and torture, with prosecutors seeking an 80-year minimum sentence; his lawyers push for five years given age and health. The case marks a rare instance of accountability for abuses linked to the Assad regime.
Syrian authorities have detained several former officers, including pilots and generals, for alleged planning and executing airstrikes on populated areas during the civil war. The arrests form part of a broader accountability push by the new authorities since Assad’s collapse in 2024, with investigations linked to airbases and command centers.