A U.S. federal judge sentenced a former high‑ranking member of President Bashar al‑Assad’s security apparatus to 60 years in prison after a trial that concluded he participated in systematic torture of detainees. The verdict, reported by Al Jazeera, marks one of the longest prison terms handed down in the United States for crimes linked to the Syrian conflict.

The defendant, identified by the court as a former officer of the Syrian intelligence services, was convicted on multiple counts of torture and conspiracy to commit torture under the United States’ Torture Victim Protection Act and related statutes. Prosecutors presented evidence that the officer oversaw interrogations in which detainees were subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, electric shocks and prolonged confinement in cramped cells.

During the proceedings, the court emphasized that the United States has jurisdiction to try individuals for torture committed abroad when the victims are foreign nationals and the perpetrator is later found on U.S. soil. The sentencing follows a broader effort by U.S. authorities to hold Syrian officials accountable for human‑rights violations committed during the decade‑long civil war that began in 2011.

Defense counsel argued that the case was politically motivated and that the evidence did not prove the officer’s direct involvement in the alleged acts. The judge, however, rejected those arguments, noting that the documentary record and witness testimonies established the officer’s command responsibility.

Human‑rights groups have welcomed the decision, describing it as a step toward justice for survivors of the Syrian regime’s repression. The ruling also underscores the growing use of U.S. courts to address international atrocities when other avenues, such as domestic prosecutions in Syria, remain unavailable.

The sentencing is expected to have diplomatic repercussions, as the Syrian government has previously condemned foreign trials of its officials as infringements on sovereignty. No official comment from Damascus has been reported at the time of writing.

Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Al Jazeera — All News — original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/18/former-assad-officer-sentenced-to-60-years-in-us-for-torture?traffic_source=rss.