US Court Sentences Former Syrian Prison Chief to 60 Years for Torture

A US federal court sentenced Samir Othman alSheikh, the former director of Adra Prison in Syria, to 60 years in prison on Thursday for torture and immigration fraud. The sentence was handed down by US District Judge Hernan Vera in Los Angeles, marking a significant legal action against human rights violators. AlSheikh, 74, was convicted in March 2026 on charges including conspiracy to commit torture, three counts of torture, and fraud in immigration documents. Prosecutors stated that he ordered and participated in the systematic abuse of detainees while serving as prison director from 2005 to 2008. Court evidence detailed torture methods such as the "Flying Carpet" device, which bent detainees' bodies, as well as beatings and prolonged confinement in harsh conditions. The case highlighted alSheikh's efforts to conceal his past from US authorities. He arrived in the United States in 2020 and applied for citizenship, but federal prosecutors said he lied about his role in torture operations. He was arrested in July 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport and has remained in custody since.