- Bashar al-Assad has been sentenced to death in absentia by a Syrian court for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Syrian civil war, according to news agency AFP.
- Maher al-Assad, Bashar's younger brother, has also received a death sentence from the court.
- Atef Najib, a cousin of Assad and former head of political security in Deraa province, was sentenced to death for overseeing torture and multiple deaths during the conflict.
- Assad fled to Moscow with his family as Islamist-led forces closed in on Damascus at the end of his rule in December 2024.
- The transitional authorities in Syria began trying figures from the former government this year, both in person and in absentia, marking a significant shift in the country's judicial proceedings.
Damascus: A Syrian court has sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity, following a conviction related to the Syrian civil war that has claimed around half a million lives.12
The court's ruling, announced on Tuesday, also included death sentences for Assad's brother, Maher, and cousin, Atef Najib.45
Najib, a former head of political security in Daraa province, was found guilty of overseeing torture and killings, including of children. The court described his actions as "crimes against humanity" and emphasized the severity of his crimes by imposing the death penalty.
This landmark ruling is the first under the transitional authorities, which have begun prosecuting former government officials this year, both in person and in absentia. Assad, who fled to Moscow as Islamist forces advanced on Damascus, has been living in exile since his ousting in December 2024.7
The court's decision reflects a significant shift in accountability for the atrocities committed during the 14-year conflict, as it seeks to address the legacy of violence and repression under Assad's regime.
The sentences mark a pivotal moment in Syria's ongoing struggle for justice and reconciliation, as the country grapples with the aftermath of a devastating civil war.
“The court also sentenced Atef Najib, a cousin of Assad, for overseeing torture of detainees including children, and Maher al-Assad, his brother, also received the death penalty. This marks the first such ruling under Syria's transitional authorities, who began trying former officials this year.”
