Trial of Samir Al-Sheikh #3: The Third Time was Not the Charm

TRIAL OF SAMIR Al SHEIKH 

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California 

Trial Monitoring Summary #3 

Hearing Date: October 14, 2025 

CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture.     

Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it is merely an unofficial summary of the proceedings. 

Throughout this summary, [information located in brackets are notes from our trial monitor] and “information placed in quotes are statements made by the witness, Judges or counsel.”

Trial Monitoring reports of the Samir Al Sheikh trial are a result of a partnership between the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) and the Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic (LJAC) at LMU Loyola Law School (Los Angeles). 

On October 14, 2025, the District Court held a hearing on Al-Sheikh’s third application for reconsideration of bond release. The application was denied.  

Although Al-Sheikh had not requested in advance that the hearing be closed to the public, the magistrate judge indicated at the start of the hearing that there was an understanding that only Al-Sheikh’s family members and anyone associated with the U.S. Attorney’s office be allowed to attend the hearing, as some portion of the application had been filed under seal. LJAC argued for the proceedings to remain public, or at least to attend any portion of the hearing that related to public information. Al-Sheikh’s attorneys argued that the discussion of points under seal was inextricable from public information and therefore it was not possible for the public to be present. The Government noted its policy to oppose sealed proceedings. Out of concern for undue prejudice to the defendant, the judge denied the request. LJAC was permitted to return to the courtroom for the court’s decision.  

The hearing lasted about an hour - in line with the previous bond hearings in this case. Several of Al-Sheikh’s family members were present. The trial remains scheduled for March 2026. 

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