Samir Othman Al-Sheikh, the former governor of Deir Ezzor in Syria, has been arrested by US authorities on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Al-Sheikh, who held several high-ranking positions in the Assad regime under Bashar al-Assad, is accused of overseeing the torture, mistreatment, and execution of political prisoners.
Jerome Schick, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), testified that Al-Sheikh had a long history of involvement in the Assad regime’s government, marked by serious accusations of human rights violations. Testimonies from former detainees corroborate Al-Sheikh’s participation in these crimes, including orders to physically assault prisoners and authorize executions.
Al-Sheikh entered the United States in 2022 with his family, attempting to settle there after allegedly committing numerous war crimes during his tenure with the Assad regime. The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) reported Al-Sheikh’s presence in the US to American authorities early last year and collaborated with US security agencies, which led to his arrest in Los Angeles, California.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) detailed in a report that Al-Sheikh was responsible for the deaths of nearly 4,000 Syrian citizens, including 93 individuals who died under torture and the enforced disappearance of 508 others.
Al-Sheikh is implicated in several brutal incidents, including the Al-Joura and Al-Qusour massacre in September 2012, where over 400 civilians were killed. During this massacre, regime forces employed extreme methods such as shooting, slaughtering with knives, and burning victims. Additionally, in the Souls massacre that same month, the regime bombed a meeting in Deir Ezzor, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals. Another atrocity, known as the Graves massacre, occurred in October 2012, when dozens of civilians were executed and tortured by regime forces.
The SNHR emphasized the role of Al-Sheikh in besieging Deir Ezzor’s neighborhoods, contributing to the arrest, torture, and killing of thousands. Al-Sheikh, originally from Idlib, also served as head of the Adra Central Prison and the Political Security Branch in Damascus.
US lawmakers praised the arrest, highlighting the importance of holding the Assad regime accountable. Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, “The arrest of an Assad regime official in plain sight is a reminder that we must redouble accountability efforts in Syria.” He added that Assad and his companions must face justice.
Senator French Hill echoed these sentiments, stating, “Assad and his regime should not be spared from justice anywhere outside of Syria.” Hill commended the SETF for their crucial role in Al-Sheikh’s arrest, calling it a major victory in the ongoing fight for justice for the Syrian people.
Former US Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice and SETF board member, Stephen J. Raab, remarked, “This is the first case in the United States against an alleged executioner of the Syrian government. It shows that there will be no impunity for the Assad regime’s crimes against its own people.”
As investigations continue, Al-Sheikh will face charges for his alleged crimes, bringing a measure of accountability to those who suffered due to the regime’s crimes.
