U.S. indicts 2 former Syrian officials, accuses them of torturing prisoners
Two former high-ranking Syrian military figures who played key roles in President Bashar al-Assad's now-deposed regime have been indicted on war crimes charges in the United States and accused of torturing American citizens.
Two former high-ranking Syrian military figures who played key roles in President Bashar al-Assad's now-deposed regime have been indicted on war crimes charges in the United States and accused of torturing American citizens.
Jamil Hassan, 72, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, 65, both former Syrian Air Force intelligence officers, were charged in connection with what prosecutors alleged was "a conspiracy to commit war crimes through the infliction of cruel and inhuman treatment on detainees under their control, including U.S. citizens."
The Justice Department's indictment accuses them of "cruel and unusual treatment" of civilian prisoners at the Mezzeh Military Airport near Damascus.
Syrians have been searching jails for loved ones in the aftermath of the overthrow of Assad, while thousands of prisoners have been freed from the facilities notorious for their use of torture.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the two former intelligence officers, on charges of conspiracy to commit the war crime of cruel and inhuman treatment and if found guilty they face life in prison.
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