Syrian Prison Boss Convicted of Torture and Immigration Fraud

On March 16, 2026, a federal jury convicted former Syrian prison official Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 73, of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and three counts of torture for his role in the persecution of inmates at Adra Prison in Damascus, Syria. Alsheikh was also convicted of lying to U.S. immigration officials about his past in order to secure a green card in the hopes of eventually becoming a naturalized citizen.