Syrian Court Sentences Bashar al-Assad to Death in Absentia

A Syrian court has sentenced Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia. They were convicted for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict which resulted in approximately half a million deaths.

The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus announced these sentences. They are the first against Assad or his close associates since the Assad family’s long rule ended nearly two years ago.

Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan declared on state television that Assad misused state agencies to commit severe crimes. Assad’s maternal cousin, Atef Najib, received a death sentence as well. Najib led a brutal operation in Daraa, which sparked an uprising and eventually fueled the civil war.

Public reaction was evident as crowds gathered outside the central Damascus courthouse to hear the verdict. Security was tight, and Najib appeared in court in a prison uniform, confined within a defendant’s cage as the sentence was read.

Assad and Maher fled to Russia following the government’s collapse in December 2024, securing political asylum there. The new Syrian authorities have requested their extradition from Russia.

Atef Najib, previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2011, is among the highest-ranking officials tried. As a former Syrian army brigadier general and head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa, he oversaw the arrest and torture of teenagers. This incident ignited widespread protests against Assad’s harsh security policies, leading to a prolonged and violent conflict.

Maher Assad, as the former commander of the 4th Armored Division, faced accusations from opposition activists. These included allegations of killings, torture, extortion, and drug trafficking. His division allegedly operated its own detention centers as well.