A Syrian court has issued a Bashar al-Assad death sentence over crimes committed during the country\u2019s nearly 14-year war. The Damascus Criminal Court also sentenced his brother Maher al-Assad and his cousin Atef Najib to death.<\/p>\n
The court issued the rulings on Tuesday. Bashar al-Assad and Maher al-Assad were tried in absentia because both are living in Russia, where they received asylum.<\/p>\n
Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 24 years before being removed from power in December 2024, was convicted of premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity. The court said he held the highest decision-making authority and used state institutions to carry out the crimes.<\/p>\n
Maher al-Assad was also convicted in absentia of premeditated murder and torture. The ruling against him follows allegations linked to his role in the former government\u2019s repression during the conflict.<\/p>\n
Atef Najib, who previously headed political security in Deraa province, received the death penalty for crimes against humanity. Syrian authorities arrested him in January 2025, allowing him to attend the proceedings in person.<\/p>\n
Najib faced accusations over the violent suppression of demonstrations in Deraa in 2011. The crackdown is widely regarded as one of the developments that contributed to the uprising against Bashar al-Assad\u2019s government and the civil war that followed.<\/p>\n
According to the court, Najib was responsible for murders, the deaths of children under 15 and torture that resulted in fatalities.<\/p>\n
The proceedings represent the first major trial targeting senior figures from the former Assad government under Syria\u2019s transitional authorities. Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan said witness testimony established Bashar al-Assad\u2019s central role in crimes committed during his rule.<\/p>\n
The verdict has been welcomed by Syrians seeking accountability for abuses committed during the war. It could also establish a legal precedent for future proceedings against former government officials accused of serious crimes.<\/p>\n
The sentences against Bashar and Maher al-Assad cannot be carried out immediately because both remain outside Syria. Reports have placed Bashar al-Assad in Moscow\u2019s financial district, where he is believed to live under strict Russian supervision and maintain a low public profile.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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