Politics

Syrian Official Sentenced For Torture

17 Sep to 19 Sep

6 outlets

Each outlet's article on this story, most articles first

6 articles

6 reporters

Sudhin ThanawalaToronto Star
Alice SperiThe Guardian
The Straits TimesThe Straits Times
Al Jazeera StaffAl Jazeera
ReutersThe Hindu
Brittny MejiaLos Angeles Times

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Syrian Official Sentenced For Torture. (2026, October 13). The Aporia. https://the-aporia.com/event/15182

Dated the day this page was built. The link always leads to this event, even after the stories are regrouped.

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Photo via The Hindu

Photo via The Straits Times

Photo via Toronto Star

WASHINGTON, Sept 17 - A former Syrian government official who headed the Damascus Central Prison under ousted President Bashar al-Assad and was convicted of torture by a US federal jury has been sentenced to 60 years in prison by a US judge, federal prosecutors said.

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Alsheikh was also convicted of lying to U.S. immigration authorities about his commission of the crimes, fraudulently obtaining a green card and attempting to naturalize as a U.S. citizen, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

4 of 6 outletsfirst reported 18 Sepwording from The Straits Times

“The conduct was heinous, unimaginably cruel and almost unspeakably violent and brutal,” said Hernan D Vera, a US district judge, before delivering the sentence.

3 of 6 outletsfirst reported 18 Sepwording from The Guardian

Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 74, was charged in 2024 and convicted in March on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and three counts of torture for his involvement in the abuse of prisoners at Adra Prison, as it is colloquially known in Damascus.

3 of 6 outletsfirst reported 18 Sepwording from The Straits Times

Analysis

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How it changed

17 Sep
A former Syrian military official convicted of torturing prisoners during President Bashar Assad’s regime is facing a possible decades-long prison sentence in the U.S.
4 outlets · Toronto Star
18 Sep
Alsheikh was also convicted of lying to U.S. immigration authorities about his commission of the crimes, fraudulently obtaining a green card and attempting to naturalize as a U.S. citizen, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
4 outlets · The Straits Times

Coverage 6 articles

19 Sep California judge sentences former Syrian prison boss to 60 years for torturing inmates
Los Angeles Times
18 Sep Assad-era Syrian official jailed for 60 years by U.S. court
The Hindu
18 Sep Former Assad officer sentenced to 60 years in US for torture
Al Jazeera
18 Sep Assad-era Syrian official jailed for 60 years by US court
The Straits Times
18 Sep US court sentences ex-Syrian official who ran notorious ‘punishment wing’ to 60 years
The Guardian
17 Sep Former Syrian official convicted of torture under Assad faces sentencing in the US
Toronto Star

Built 2026-10-13 from 6 articles. Every sentence on this page is quoted from the linked article; nothing was written by a model except the Summary and the items marked AI, which cite their sources, and the questions and labels under "Disputed". Photos are from the outlets that covered the story, never from articles our check marks sensitive.