Syrian Court Sentences Bashar Assad and Officials to Death

In a recent development, a Syrian court delivered a death sentence to Bashar Assad, the ousted Syrian President, and his younger brother for crimes against humanity and war crimes. The ruling came from the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, which marks the first of its kind against Assad and members of his close circle since the Assad dynasty’s power ended 20 months ago.

The court session, aired live on Syrian state television, saw Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan accuse Assad of using state agencies to commit grave offenses. Also condemned to death was Assad’s maternal cousin, Atef Najib, for his part in the harsh crackdown in Daraa province, which ignited widespread unrest leading to the Syrian civil war.

During the trial, under heavy security, Atef Najib appeared in a prisoner’s uniform. He awaited the judge’s sentence inside a cage as a crowd gathered outside the Damascus courthouse to witness the outcome. Currently, Najib stands as one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial. His roles included serving as the head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa during Assad’s reign. Under his watch, teenagers in Daraa were detained and tortured for anti-government graffiti, transforming this incident into a pivot for massive public dissent against Assad’s oppressive regime.

After the government’s downfall in December 2024, Assad and his brother Maher secured asylum in Russia. Syria’s new authorities have sought the extradition of the Assad brothers. Maher Assad, formerly in command of the Syrian military’s 4th Armored Division, faced allegations from opposition activists regarding numerous crimes, including torture, murder, extortion, and drug trafficking, besides operating detention centers.