Damascus Fourth Criminal Court Sentences Bashar al-Assad, Maher, Atef Najib to Death In Absentia

A Syrian court in Damascus sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year civil war, with the Fourth Criminal Court reading the verdict on Tuesday.

“Realistically, the sentencing will only apply to Najib, who is in Syrian custody”

Euronews

The court also sentenced their cousin Atef Najib to death, with Najib attending the trial in a cage and being found guilty of leading the 2011 Daraa crackdown that sparked the uprising and later the civil war.

21News

Euronews quoted Senior Director at the Soufan Center Caroline Rose saying, "Realistically, the sentencing will only apply to Najib, who is in Syrian custody," while Bashar and Maher remain in Russia.E

AP reported that judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan said, "Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity," and that the verdicts were mostly symbolic because Assad and Maher had fled to Russia after the government’s collapse in December 2024.

Outside the courthouse in central Damascus, BBC described crowds clapping and chanting as people held pictures of loved ones killed by the regime, and one man told the BBC, "The joy is indescribable."

The BBC also quoted Nouha al-Masri, a prosecutor in the case, saying, "We have been waiting for 15 years to reclaim even a small part of our rights," and added that her demand was that trials not end in the new Syria.

Al Jazeera

AP reported that attorney Adnan al-Masalmeh, who represented families of Najib’s victims, said, "Today is the day of justice for all the wounded, martyrs, detainees and Syrians who were forced to leave their country," while Human Rights Watch researcher Hiba Zayadin said the rights group opposes the death penalty because, "it’s cruel and irreversible, especially when a fair trial isn’t guaranteed."

AP further said the Washington-based Syria Justice and Accountability Center described Tuesday’s conviction of Najib as a "historical step in Syria’s transitional period," while also saying it exposed major flaws in the justice system that likely jeopardized his right to a fair trial.

While the court’s verdicts were issued in Damascus, Russia’s role in Syria remained in focus as Ynetnews reported that Russia will retain a military presence under a new agreement transforming its longtime bases at Hmeimim and Tartous into joint training centers.

“The transition expected to be completed within three months”

Ynetnews

Ynetnews said the memorandum of understanding was signed on Aug. 9 and that the transition to joint training centers is expected to be completed within three months, with civilian infrastructure transferred to Syrian control including Hmeimim airport and the commercial berth at Tartous port.

Euronews framed the sentencing as part of Syria’s post-regime accountability landscape, quoting Caroline Rose as saying the decision "will automatically restrict Syria’s ability to receive information from and cooperate with external actors like the EU and UN," which have strict stipulations regarding human rights and the death penalty.E

AP added that Syria’s new rulers have asked Russia to hand the Assads over, even as it reported the sentences were the first against Assad or any members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power came to an end 20 months ago.