Mzaik v. Syrian Arab Republic: Assad Government Found Guilty of Torturing American Citizen
Washington, DC: 08/14/2025
“This week’s ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia reaffirms the systematic torture and abuse committed in Assad-era prisons,” said the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre. “SJAC attended the trial and documented the testimonies of Obada Mzaik and other witnesses who detailed physical and psychological torture perpetrated specifically by Assad’s Airforce Intelligence Directorate at the Mezzeh Military Airport.”
This case was filed by the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) with support from other Syrian organizations, including SJAC which provided eight witness testimonies and ten Syrian government documents from the intelligence branch where the torture occurred. The plaintiff's testimony, supported by other witnesses, demonstrated that not only was the Airforce Intelligence Branch responsible for committing torture against the Syrian people, but that torture in prisons was an integral part of the former Syrian government's efforts to terrorize and control civilians.
"Syrians deserve access to the truth, and these trials are an important step in establishing what happened to those detained by the Assad government, including those who remain missing," said Tina Al-Khersan, SJAC’s Policy Offer who monitored the evidentiary hearing. Adding that, “this case sends a message to the current Syrian government that the painful legacy of the Assad government must not continue.”
“It is rare for this type of case to occur in the United States and was only possible under U.S. law because the victim was both a Syrian and a U.S. citizen. We hope that the information revealed in this hearing will contribute to the growing body of evidence proving conclusively the Assad government and the Air Force Intelligence Branch's crimes, helping Syrians seek justice and hold additional perpetrators accountable,” said Madeline Hart, SJAC’s Program Coordinator who also attended the hearing.
SJAC’s full report on this trial will be available on our website in the coming weeks.
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The Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) is a Syrian civil society organization working towards a Syrian state defined by justice, respect for human rights, and the rule of law, where citizens from all components of Syrian society live in peace without fear. Its mission is to promote justice and accountability in Syria by ensuring that human rights violations are comprehensively documented, and that documentation data is securely preserved, cataloged, and analyzed to advance transitional justice and peacebuilding.
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Michael Ader
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