Syria Court Hands Death Sentence to Assad

A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after finding him guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's 14-year civil war. His younger brother, Maher al-Assad, was also sentenced to death in absentia, while their maternal cousin Atef Najib received the same sentence after being convicted over his role in the crackdown that helped trigger the uprising.

The Damascus Criminal Court found Bashar al-Assad guilty of premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity. Maher al-Assad was convicted of premeditated murder and torture. Both brothers are living in exile in Russia after fleeing Syria when opposition forces entered Damascus in December 2024, effectively ending the Assad family's rule.

Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general and head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa province, was detained in January last year and became one of the highest-ranking figures from the former government to face trial. He was convicted of crimes against humanity, including murder, the intentional killing of children under 15 and torture resulting in death.

Najib was present in court as the verdict was delivered. Under tight security, he stood inside a cage wearing a prison uniform while the judge read the death sentence.

The court's ruling is the first such judgment against senior figures from the former Assad government under Syria's transitional authorities, which began prosecuting officials from the previous regime this year both in person and in absentia.

Judge Al-Aryan said witness testimony had established Bashar al-Assad's role as the "highest decision-maker" in the crimes and found that he had used state institutions to facilitate their commission.

Najib was found responsible for leading the security crackdown in Daraa in 2011. The campaign against protesters in the southern province became a turning point that led to the uprising and, eventually, the civil war.

The conflict killed about half a million people and displaced millions of Syrians during its 14-year course. The latest verdict is therefore being viewed as a significant step in efforts to hold senior figures of the former regime accountable.

The ruling was welcomed by those seeking justice for crimes committed during Assad's rule. Al Jazeera correspondent Obaida Hitto, reporting from Damascus, said the verdict "is going to bring a lot of relief to the Syrian people" and could contribute to what he described as their healing process.

"This is something they've waited for a long time," Hitto said, adding that Syrians wanted those who "tortured their children, displaced them from their homes and destroyed their communities" to be held accountable.

The verdict could also establish a legal precedent for further prosecutions of people accused of crimes under Assad's rule. Al Jazeera correspondent Osama bin Javaid said Syrians were seeking justice not only against Assad but also against those who carried out abuses under his government.

Najib's conviction also marks one of the most prominent trials of a former Assad-era official since the transitional authorities began their efforts to prosecute members of the previous government.