A Syrian court has handed down a death sentence in absentia to former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his younger brother for their involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict, resulting in approximately 500,000 fatalities.
This ruling, issued by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, marks the first time that legal action has been taken against Assad or his close associates since their decades-long rule came to an end 20 months ago. Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, in a televised court session, stated that Bashar Assad utilized state entities to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Atef Najib, Assad’s maternal cousin who was convicted of overseeing a harsh crackdown in Daraa that sparked the rebellion and subsequent civil war, also received a death sentence in the same case. Najib, who stood trial in a cage wearing a prisoner’s attire amid tight security, is a significant former Syrian army brigadier general who was the head of the political security branch in Daraa province during Assad’s regime in 2011.
The court proceedings saw the presence of some of Najib’s victims, with Mouawiya Sayasneh expressing relief at the verdict, stating that justice has been served for those who perished in the crackdown. Another individual, Nayef Abazeid, who was detained at the age of 13 in 2011, voiced satisfaction with the sentence, adding that true justice would be served when Bashar Assad faces a similar fate.
Following the fall of the government in December 2024, Bashar Assad and his brother Maher sought refuge in Russia, where they were granted political asylum. The new Syrian authorities have requested Russia to extradite the Assads back to Syria for prosecution.
Human Rights Watch has raised concerns over the death penalty, advocating for fair trial standards and the establishment of a lasting justice system in Syria to ensure genuine accountability for crimes committed during the Assad era. Najib retains the right to appeal the court’s decision, emphasizing the need for a fair and transparent legal process.
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