- Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and cousin Atef Najib have been sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes by a Syrian court.
- Atef Najib was sentenced for leading the crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that initiated the uprising and later the civil war.
- Assad and Maher al-Assad fled to Russia in December 2024 after insurgents took control of Damascus.
- Atef Najib was detained in January 2025, becoming one of the highest-ranking officials to be tried.
- The Syrian civil war began in 2011 due to crackdowns on pro-democracy Arab Spring protesters, evolving into a complex conflict with various factions.
- The war has lasted for around 14 years and resulted in approximately half a million lives lost.
- The ruling against al-Assad and his relatives is the first under the transitional authorities who began trying figures from the former government this year.
- Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan stated that witness testimony established al-Assad's role as the highest decision-maker in the crimes committed.
- Al Jazeera reported that the verdict is expected to bring relief to the Syrian people and contribute to their healing process.
A Syrian court has sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher, and cousin Atef Najib to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity, a landmark ruling in the ongoing pursuit of justice for victims of the Syrian civil war.123568
The court found Bashar al-Assad guilty of premeditated murder, torture, and crimes against humanity, with Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan stating that witness testimony established Assad's role as “the highest decision-maker” in these crimes. The ruling is significant as it is the first under the transitional authorities that began trying figures from the former government this year.9
Atef Najib, who led the crackdown in Daraa that sparked the uprising, was also sentenced to death. His crimes included “the intentional killing of children under 15” and “torture leading to death”. Najib, a former brigadier general, was detained last year and became one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial.
Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto reported that the ruling “is going to bring a lot of relief to the Syrian people”, contributing to their “healing process”. He emphasized that victims have long awaited accountability for those who “tortured their children, displaced them from their homes and destroyed their communities”.10
The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has resulted in approximately half a million deaths and has seen various factions vying for control, complicating the conflict's resolution.
“The verdict marks the first death sentences under Syria's transitional authorities, who began trying former government figures this year. Atef Najib, detained in January 2025, was sentenced for leading the 2011 Daraa crackdown that sparked the civil war, which killed around half a million people.”
