Syrian Court Sentences Bashar Al-Assad, Maher Al-Assad, Atef Najib To Death In Absentia

A Syrian court sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia on Tuesday, convicting him of crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s nearly 14-year conflict, and it also sentenced his younger brother Maher al-Assad to death in absentia.

“"He is therefore sentenced to death."”

France 24

At the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan said the verdict found Assad guilty of crimes including "premeditated murder, the intentional killing of more than one person, the intentional killing of children under 15 years ... torture, torture leading to death, and deprivation of liberty on multiple occasions – classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes".

Al Jazeera

The court also sentenced Atef Najib, a cousin of Assad, to death, with Euronews describing Najib as standing in a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read the sentence.

NPR reported that the sentences were the first against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power came to an end 20 months ago, and it said Assad fled to Russia after the government’s fall in December 2024.

Euronews said the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus found Bashar al-Assad guilty of ordering the murder of civilians including children, as well as torture and unlawful detention, and it said the judge ruled that witnesses confirmed Assad was the ultimate authority behind the crimes.

NPR quoted judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan saying, "Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity," as a crowd gathered outside the courthouse in central Damascus.

Al-Monitor

The New York Times reported that verdicts were met with celebrations inside and outside the courthouse in Damascus, and it said families of some victims chanted “With our souls, with our blood, we sacrifice ourselves for the martyrs.”

Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto, reporting from Damascus, said the ruling “is going to bring a lot of relief to the Syrian people,” and he added that it would contribute to their “healing process.”

The New York Times said Syria’s new interim government formed by the rebels who ousted al-Assad in December 2024 sought some measure of justice, and it reported that the Syrian government has called for al-Assad to be extradited to Syria while Russian authorities are unlikely to return him.

“Moscow has so far refused to extradite al-Assad”

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera said Moscow has so far refused to extradite al-Assad, whom it has granted asylum, and it reported that Damascus is calling on countries where wanted al-Assad-era officials “are either in hiding or being detained” to send them back to Syria.

Al-Monitor reported that the high-profile hearings began in April and that the ruling was the first since Syria’s authorities began trying figures linked to the former regime, while it also said President Ahmed al-Sharaa has vowed to achieve transitional justice by holding those responsible accountable.

France 24 reported that the ruling was the first such decision under Syria’s transitional leaders who ousted Assad in December 2024, and it said the court sentenced Assad and his brother in absentia as Islamist-led forces closed in on Damascus after a lightning offensive.