Captured in Los Angeles: Ex-director of Syrian torture prison indicted in USA

The former head of a notorious prison in the Syrian capital Damascus has been indicted in the US on torture allegations. The 72-year-old is accused of ordering his subordinates to inflict severe physical and mental suffering on political and other prisoners, the US Department of Justice announced on Thursday (local time). Sometimes he was also personally involved in the torture.

The man is said to have headed the central prison in Damascus, also known as Adra Prison, under the deposed ruler Bashar al-Assad from around 2005 to 2008. In a “punishment wing,” on his instructions, prisoners were beaten while they hung from the ceiling with their arms outstretched. Prisoners were also tortured with a device known as a “flying carpet,” which twisted their bodies and caused unbearable pain and even fractured vertebrae.

The defendant tortured dissidents and other prisoners to deter opposition to al-Assad, said Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri. According to the indictment, the now 72-year-old immigrated to the USA in 2020 and applied for American citizenship there in 2023.

According to media reports, he was arrested at Los Angeles airport in July this year while attempting to travel to Lebanon. At that time he was accused of visa and naturalization fraud. His lawyers deny the allegations, it said. The case was brought before a grand jury in Los Angeles, a group of jurors who, after the prosecution presents evidence, decides whether charges can be filed.