Two former high-ranking officials from the Syrian intelligence community have been indicted for alleged war crimes, specifically regarding the torture of both American citizens and civilian individuals that the Syrian government deemed adversarial. According to an announcement made by the Department of Justice on Monday, the charges stem from horrific treatments experienced by detainees confined in a military prison during the Syrian civil war.
The U.S. prosecutors have pointed fingers at the individuals who served under the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, asserting that they held critical oversight roles in the operations of detention facilities located at the Mezzeh Military Airport in close proximity to the capital city of Damascus. Inside these horrifying facilities, detainees reportedly faced brutalities such as beatings, electrocution, hanging by their wrists, acid burns, and even the removal of toenails. These alleged acts occurred amidst the chaos of a civil conflict that has spanned over a decade and witnessed significant shifts, including the considerable downfall of the Assad regime recently.
Named in the charges are Jamil Hassan, 72, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, 65, both former officers in the Syrian air force intelligence. According to the U.S. prosecutors, these men created an environment of terror in Mezzeh Prison, executing their roles to the fullest degree. An unsealed indictment filed in federal court in Chicago details their charges of conspiring to commit war crimes through the inhumane treatment of several detainees. The Department of Justice has issued arrest warrants for both men, who are still unaccounted for.
As a further condemnation of the actions tied to the Assad regime, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the importance of accountability for those who have committed atrocities, specifically stating that individuals involved in the torture of American citizens and other civilians will be pursued relentlessly. Garland asserted that the Justice Department holds a steadfast commitment to seeking justice, ensuring that torturous acts will not go unpunished.
The timeframe for the alleged abuses stretches from January 2012 to July 2019, with a focus on detainees considered enemies of the Assad regime. The indictment notes that the victims often included not only Syrian nationals but also dual citizens and others, including individuals from the United States. The two officials are said to have led efforts to identify, intimidate, and punish anyone suspected of aiding opposition forces, which encompassed acts like providing medical assistance or engaging in anti-regime protests.
According to the indictment, the inhumane conditions within Mezzeh Prison extended beyond physical torture. Detainees were forced to endure psychological torment by listening to the desperate screams of fellow inmates undergoing torture and often had to share cramped quarters with the corpses of deceased prisoners. Furthermore, inmates were described as being denied adequate food, water, and medical assistance.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco remarked that this is the second time within a year that the Department of Justice has proceeded with charges against war criminals targeting U.S. citizens. This tactic involves invoking a federal law seldom used prior to this, demonstrating a determined effort to enforce accountability for violent acts occurring in combat situations. Last year marked a significant moment when four Russian soldiers were also charged with war crimes relating to an American citizen during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, setting a precedent for future cases.
FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed the Bureau’s dedication to collaborating with law enforcement on a global scale to ensure accountability for those accused of war crimes. He highlighted the systematic application of cruel treatment faced by perceived enemies of the Syrian state during the reign of Hassan and Mahmoud, including American citizens among their victims.
The recent fall of the Assad regime following 13 years of destructive civil war has opened a new chapter in Syrian history. Rebel forces announce the liberation of Damascus, leading to the flight of Assad to Russia. With the United Nations estimating over 300,000 civilian fatalities and millions displaced from their homes throughout the conflict, the human toll of this war continues to resonate.
For over 50 years, the Assad family has wielded control over Syria through severe repression, utilizing long-documented practices of mass incarceration, torture, and extrajudicial killings to maintain power. Infamous detention centers became notorious as sites of torment, where dissenters would mysteriously vanish, enveloped in conditions that echoed horror. As rebel forces began retaking control over Damascus, imagery unveiled the liberation of inmates from these brutal facilities, highlighting the shifting tides amidst a war-torn nation.
The complexities of accountability and justice are only beginning to unfold in the wake of these terrible crimes, as global attention stays focused on the actions taken by those in power and the suffering endured by ordinary citizens in this beleaguered country.
