A Syrian court 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, which resulted in approximately 500,000 fatalities. The ruling, issued by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, marks the first convictions against Assad or his close associates since their decades-long rule was terminated two years ago.
Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, speaking during a live broadcast on state television, accused Bashar Assad of utilizing state institutions to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, Assad’s maternal cousin, Atef Najib, received a death sentence in the same trial for overseeing a crackdown in Daraa province that triggered the uprising and subsequent civil war.
Atef Najib, who was within a secure enclosure in a prisoner’s attire as the verdict was read, was a former brigadier general in the Syrian army and the head of the political security branch in Daraa province under Assad in 2011. During his tenure, numerous teenagers who protested against the government were detained and subjected to torture, fueling widespread demonstrations against Assad’s repressive regime.
Both Assad and his brother, Maher, sought refuge in Russia following the collapse of their government in December 2024 and were granted political asylum. The new leadership in Syria has formally requested Russia to extradite the Assads for trial.
The court proceedings, held amid stringent security measures, attracted a crowd of onlookers outside the courthouse in central Damascus. Victims of Najib’s brutal crackdown, including individuals who were teenagers at the time, expressed relief at the sentencing, with some remarking that justice had finally been served after years of suffering.
Human Rights Watch has opposed the death penalty in all circumstances, including this case, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a fair trial process for Atef Najib. The organization underscored the necessity for Syria to establish a lasting justice system to achieve genuine accountability for the atrocities committed during the Assad era.