FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – March 1, 2026 – The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) proudly announces a groundbreaking achievement in the pursuit of accountability. After years of dedicated investigation, SETF was the organization that identified Brigadier General of the Assad regime Samir Othman al-Sheikh’s presence in the United States years ago. Working directly with the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the State Department, SETF was instrumental in building a comprehensive case and bringing witnesses to support indictments for torture. From 2005–2008, al-Sheikh was the head of Adra Prison outside Damascus, which held criminals as well as political dissidents, and was notorious for ill treatment, torture, and violence. As the former governor of Deir Ezzor from 2011 to 2013 and head of the security committee, al-Sheikh oversaw mass killings in atrocities such as al-Joura and al-Qusour. From Adra to Deir Ezzor, he is responsible for the torture and death of countless civilians — mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters — including the initial arrest of Mazen al-Hamada, a symbol of the revolution’s spirit and the resilience of the Syrian people. Countless civilians and families who suffered under the Assad regime and its thugs like al-Sheikh demand justice. This marks the highest-ranking Assad regime official ever captured outside Syria. The trial, held in Los Angeles, will begin on Monday, March 2, 2026. This historic moment is a testament to the tireless efforts of survivors, advocates, and SETF in ensuring justice.
“SETF dedicates all the efforts, years of work, and this trial to our dearest colleague Mazen al-Hamada, his family, and to all the kind people of Deir Ezzor. Samir Othman al-Sheikh will face justice, and we will continue to pursue every war criminal, no matter where they are,” said Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Syrian Emergency Task Force Celebrates Historic Step in Justice: Brigadier General Samir Othman al-Sheikh’s Trial Begins
Washington, D.C. – March 1, 2026 – The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) proudly announces a groundbreaking achievement in the pursuit of accountability. After years of dedicated investigation, SETF was the organization that identified Brigadier General of the Assad regime Samir Othman al-Sheikh’s presence in the United States years ago. Working directly with the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the State Department, SETF was instrumental in building a comprehensive case and bringing witnesses to support indictments for torture. From 2005–2008, al-Sheikh was the head of Adra Prison outside Damascus, which held criminals as well as political dissidents, and was notorious for ill treatment, torture, and violence. As the former governor of Deir Ezzor from 2011 to 2013 and head of the security committee, al-Sheikh oversaw mass killings in atrocities such as al-Joura and al-Qusour. From Adra to Deir Ezzor, he is responsible for the torture and death of countless civilians — mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters — including the initial arrest of Mazen al-Hamada, a symbol of the revolution’s spirit and the resilience of the Syrian people. Countless civilians and families who suffered under the Assad regime and its thugs like al-Sheikh demand justice. This marks the highest-ranking Assad regime official ever captured outside Syria. The trial, held in Los Angeles, will begin on Monday, March 2, 2026. This historic moment is a testament to the tireless efforts of survivors, advocates, and SETF in ensuring justice.
“SETF dedicates all the efforts, years of work, and this trial to our dearest colleague Mazen al-Hamada, his family, and to all the kind people of Deir Ezzor. Samir Othman al-Sheikh will face justice, and we will continue to pursue every war criminal, no matter where they are,” said Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force.