A Syrian court has issued a death sentence in absentia for former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his younger brother for their involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes during the 14-year conflict in Syria, which claimed the lives of approximately half a million people. This ruling, delivered by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, marks the first legal action against Assad or his close associates since their regime ended 20 months ago.
Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, presiding over a televised court session, stated that Bashar Assad utilized state resources to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity. Atef Najib, Assad’s maternal cousin, was also sentenced to death in the same case for his role in overseeing a crackdown in the Daraa province that triggered the uprising leading to the civil war.
Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general, faced the court amidst heightened security measures, wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the verdict was announced. A crowd gathered outside the courthouse in central Damascus to witness the sentencing.
Following the fall of the Assad government in December 2024, Assad and his brother Maher sought refuge in Russia and were granted political asylum. The new authorities in Syria have requested Russia to extradite the Assads.
Atef Najib, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in April 2011, held a senior position as head of the political security branch in Daraa under Assad’s leadership in 2011. During his tenure, a group of teenagers was arrested and subjected to torture for expressing dissent against the government, sparking widespread protests against the oppressive actions of Assad’s security forces.
Some of Najib’s victims, including individuals who were teenagers at the time of their detention, were present at the court proceedings. Their reactions to the verdict, expressing a sense of closure for the lives lost during the crackdown, were shared with the media.
Human Rights Watch has criticized the death penalty verdict, emphasizing the need for fair trial standards and the importance of establishing a lasting justice system in Syria to ensure true accountability for crimes committed during the Assad era.