A Syrian court issued a death sentence in absentia for former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his younger brother on Tuesday, convicting them of crimes against humanity and war crimes during the 14-year Syrian conflict that resulted in approximately 500,000 deaths. This marks the first time Assad or his inner circle members have faced such sentencing since their rule ended 20 months ago.
Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, during a live televised court session in Damascus, stated that Bashar Assad utilized state agencies to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, Assad’s maternal cousin, Atef Najib, was also sentenced to death for his role in overseeing a crackdown in the Daraa province, which triggered the uprising and subsequent civil war.
Amid heightened security measures, Najib, who had been previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, appeared in court wearing a prisoner’s uniform while the judge announced the sentence. Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general, held a significant position as head of the political security branch in Daraa province under Assad’s regime in 2011.
The court proceedings included testimonies from some of Najib’s victims, expressing relief at the verdict. One individual, Mouawiya Sayasneh, who had suffered losses during the crackdown in 2011, stated that justice had finally been served with Najib’s death sentence. Another detainee from that time, Nayef Abazeid, shared his contentment with the ruling and expressed hope for accountability extending to Bashar Assad as well.
After seeking refuge in Russia following the collapse of their government in December 2024, Assad and his brother Maher have been granted political asylum. The new Syrian authorities have requested Russia to extradite the Assads for prosecution. Human Rights Watch has raised concerns about the death penalty in this case, emphasizing the importance of fair trial standards and the establishment of a lasting justice system in Syria for accountability in crimes committed during the Assad era.