FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUL 16, 2024
The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) proudly announces a monumental victory in the fight for justice: the arrest of senior Assad regime security official Samir Ousman Al-Sheikh. Apprehended in Los Angeles, California, Al-Sheikh stands accused of multiple charges and is under investigation for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria. SETF informed the US government of Al-Sheikh’s presence in early 2022 and has since collaborated with law enforcement and relevant US agencies, resulting in this historic arrest. This will ensure Al-Sheikh soon faces justice for his numerous serious crimes in Syria.
Al-Sheikh, a Brigadier General within the Syrian regime’s intelligence apparatus, held high-ranking positions in the Ministry of Interior, including head of Adra Central Prison and the Political Security Branch in Adra. As a trusted confidant of Maher al-Assad, brother to dictator Bashar al-Assad and leader of the Syrian Army’s 4th Armored Division, Al-Sheikh wielded immense power. Although he initially retired in 2010, he was reinstated in 2011 by Assad himself and appointed as the Governor and Head of the Security Committee in Deir Ezzor to ensure the violent crackdown of the ongoing peaceful protests that sparked the Syrian Revolution.
His reign in Deir Ezzor was marked by brutal repression. Shortly after taking office, Al-Sheikh ordered violent crackdowns on peaceful demonstrations, and called on the regime’s military to besiege and bomb Deir Ezzor. His tenure saw widespread violence, with hundreds of thousands killed, arrested, and tortured. He was responsible for multiple massacres including the Al Joura Massacre where over 450 civilians were murdered. SETF’s Executive Director Mouaz Moustafa expressed, “SETF is proud to have not only found this war criminal, but to have worked tirelessly with the US government to ensure his arrest and going forward to ensure his prosecution to the full extent of the law.”
Al-Sheikh entered the United States with his family, seeking a new life after committing numerous atrocities against the Syrian people. Former US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice and SETF’s Board Member Ambassador Stephen J. Rapp stated, “This is the first case in the US against an alleged torturer for the Syrian government. Together with many cases in Europe it shows that there will be no impunity for the crimes of the Assad regime against its own people.”
SETF extends profound gratitude to the dedicated law enforcement agencies involved in this operation. This landmark capture underscores our unwavering commitment to justice and accountability for the victims of the Assad regime’s horrific crimes. The Syrian Emergency Task Force calls on anyone with information about the victims or the crimes of Al-Sheikh to reach out directly at our website www.setf.ngo or directly on our twitter @syrianetf.
About the Syrian Emergency Task Force
The Syrian Emergency Task Force is a Syrian-American 501(c)(3) headquartered in Washington, D.C. SETF works tirelessly to bring an end to the killing in Syria through humanitarian initiatives, advocacy and the pursuit of justice and accountability for war crimes. Today, SETF stands as the most notable American organization working on Syria, as evidenced by the impact it has made both on the ground in Syria and the U.S. SETF serves as a resource for education by bringing the voices of the Syrian people to the international stage. From testimonies at the UN Security Council to local grassroots community fundraisers, the team brings together like-minded people who are determined to fight for a safe, and free Syria away from the vicious dictatorship.
For inquiries, please contact:
Maria Cure, Director of Communications
[email protected] www.setf.ngo