A Damascus court has sentenced Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and former security official Atef Najib to death in absentia on charges of murder, torture, and crimes against humanity. The ruling follows the overthrow of Assad's regime in December 2024, with Bashar al-Assad having fled to Moscow.
The ruling represents a significant legal development against the former Syrian leader following his regime's overthrow and highlights the ongoing efforts by transitional authorities to hold officials accountable for alleged atrocities.
A Syrian court has sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, convicting him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war. The ruling also imposed death sentences on his brother, Maher al-Assad, and Atef Najib, a cousin and former head of political security in Deraa province. Najib was tried in person, while Bashar and Maher were tried in absentia. The Damascus court's decision follows earlier reports of the death sentences being issued against the three individuals. Deraa is widely seen as the birthplace of the uprising against Assad's rule, which began in March 2011 with the detention and alleged torture of teenagers. The violent crackdown on protests escalated into a civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands. Syria's interim government began trying officials associated with the Assad regime earlier this year, with Najib being one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial. He was convicted of crimes including murder and torture leading to death. Bashar al-Assad fled with his family to Moscow after his regime was overthrown in December 2024. An arrest warrant had previously been issued against him in December on charges of murder and torture.