Both men face one count of conspiracy to commit war crimes through the infliction of cruel and inhuman treatment on detainees under their control.
Both face one count of conspiracy to commit war crimes through the “infliction of cruel and inhuman treatment” on detainees under their control, including U.S. citizens, allegedly in detention facilities at the Mezzeh Military Airport (Mezzeh Prison) near the Syrian capital of Damascus.
“The defendants are alleged to have committed atrocities against political dissidents, including U.S. citizens, opposing a brutal and now-deposed dictatorial regime,” Argentieri said. “War crimes such as the torture described in this indictment strike at the basic human rights that we all share.”
According to the indictment, Hassan was the director of Syrian Air Force Intelligence (SAFI) and in charge of a network of facilities, including Mezzeh Prison, where civilians perceived to be opponents of the Syrian regime were detained. Mahmoud was a brigadier general in SAFI and helped direct operations at the prison.
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It’s alleged that between January 2012 and July 2019, Hassan and Mahmoud conspired to identify, intimidate, punish, and kill people detained at Mezzeh Prison who were suspected of aiding or supporting opponents of the Assad regime. Detainees were allegedly beaten, electrocuted, hung from the ceiling by their wrists, burned with acid, and subjected to other forms of torture.
They are also accused of depriving people of adequate food, water, and medical care, forcing detainees to listen to the screams of people being tortured, and forcing them to stay in cells with the bodies of dead prisoners.
If convicted, the pair could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
“Human rights abuses are among the most egregious crimes that the FBI investigates, and this historic indictment memorializes our commitment to accountability and justice,” the FBI Chicago Field Office’s Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta said in a Dec. 9 statement.
“Having taken over government prisons and established additional jails, HTS has used sectarian motivated detention and related abduction and demands for ransom against members of minority groups,” the commission said.
Chris Summers contributed to this report.
