A Syrian court handed down a death sentence in absentia to former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his younger brother on Tuesday for their involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes during the 14-year conflict in Syria that resulted in around 500,000 deaths.
This marks the first time that Assad or any members of his inner circle have been sentenced since their family’s rule ended 20 months ago. Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, speaking during a live broadcast on state TV from the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, stated that Bashar Assad utilized state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Additionally, Assad’s cousin Atef Najib, who played a role in a crackdown in Daraa leading to the uprising and subsequent civil war, was also sentenced to death in the same case. Najib, who was seen in court wearing a prisoner’s uniform, is accused of overseeing brutal crackdowns as a former Syrian army brigadier general in Daraa province in 2011.
Both Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia following the fall of the government in December 2024 and were granted political asylum. The new Syrian leadership has requested Russia to extradite the Assads back to Syria for trial.
Najib, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in April 2011, is one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial for his actions during the conflict. The sentencing has brought closure to some of Najib’s victims who were present at the courthouse, expressing relief and satisfaction at the outcome.
As the legal process unfolds, human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch have emphasized the importance of fair trial standards and the need to establish a lasting justice system in Syria for true accountability for crimes committed during the Assad era.
