A Syrian court sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the country’s 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead, reports BritPanorama.
The sentences at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus mark the first against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power came to an end 20 months ago.
Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan highlighted the severity of Assad’s actions, stating, “Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” during a televised court session.
Also sentenced to death was Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, convicted for overseeing the crackdown in Daraa that sparked the uprising leading to civil war. Najib was present in court, appearing in a prisoner’s uniform as the judge delivered the verdict.
A crowd gathered outside the courthouse in central Damascus, where tight security measures were implemented to manage the event. Assad and his brother Maher have been in Russia since the fall of their government in December 2024, having received political asylum, while Syria’s new regime has requested Russia to extradite them.
Najib, previously sanctioned by the U.S. in April 2011, is recognized as one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial. As the former head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa province, he played a pivotal role in the initial violent repression of protests in 2011. His actions contributed to the escalation of tensions in Syria, which devolved into a protracted civil war.
During the uprising, a group of teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti were arrested and tortured, a catalyst for broader mass protests against Assad’s regime. The subsequent governmental response unleashed a brutal crackdown that ultimately spiraled into a 14-year civil conflict, culminating in Assad’s ousting.
Maher Assad, former commander of the military’s 4th Armored Division, has faced accusations of involvement in numerous atrocities, including killings and torture, as well as operating detention centers notorious for abuse.
