A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad and his younger brother, Maher Assad, to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war.
The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus also sentenced Atef Najib, a former security chief in the southern province of Daraa and Bashar Assad’s maternal cousin, to death. Najib was present in court when the verdict was delivered, while the Assad brothers were tried in absentia.
The ruling marks the first conviction of Bashar Assad since his government was toppled in December 2024, ending more than five decades of rule by the Assad family. Bashar Assad fled Syria after the fall of his government and has been living in Moscow. Syria’s new authorities have called for his return to face justice.
The court convicted Bashar Assad of premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity, including the killing of children.
Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan said during a televised session that Assad had used state institutions to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity.
