Syrian Court Sentences Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, Atef Najib to Death In Absentia

A Syrian court in Damascus sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia alongside his brother Maher al-Assad and cousin Atef Najib for crimes during Syria’s nearly 14-year conflict, with the Fourth Criminal Court finding Bashar guilty of ordering murder of civilians including children, as well as torture and unlawful detention.

““Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,””

CNN

CNN reported that judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan said, “Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” during a court session aired live on state TV.

Al Jazeera

The same case also sentenced Atef Najib to death, with Al Jazeera describing that the court convicted him of “crimes against humanity” for overseeing a crackdown in Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war.

AP said Najib stood inside a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read the sentence, and it reported that Assad and Maher fled to Russia after the government’s fall in December 2024 and received political asylum.

Euronews added that the judge said witnesses had confirmed al-Assad was the ultimate authority behind the crimes and that he had used the instruments of the Syrian state to carry them out.

Outside the courthouse in central Damascus, AP reported that a crowd gathered to hear the verdict, while attorney Adnan al-Masalmeh said, “Today is the day of justice for all the wounded, martyrs, detainees and Syrians who were forced to leave their country.”

AP also quoted Human Rights Watch researcher Hiba Zayadin saying, “It’s cruel and irreversible, especially when a fair trial isn’t guaranteed,” as she opposed the death penalty in all cases including this one.

AP News

Al Jazeera reported that judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan said witness testimony established Bashar al-Assad’s role as “the highest decision-maker” and that he used state institutions to facilitate the crimes.

Al Jazeera further said Obaida Hitto reported from Damascus that the ruling “is going to bring a lot of relief to the Syrian people,” contributing to their “healing process,” and that people wanted “to see these people that tortured their children, displaced them from their homes and destroyed their communities be held to account.”

AP said al-Aryan stated Najib can appeal, and it reported that Syria’s new rulers have asked Russia to hand the Assads over after Moscow granted asylum.

The ruling was described by Al Jazeera as the first under the transitional authorities that began trying figures from the former government this year, with the court’s findings tied to the crackdown in Daraa province and the outbreak of the uprising and later civil war.

“The transitional authorities began in April openly and in person and in absentia trying former political and security officials”

France 24

France 24 said the transitional authorities began in April openly and in person and in absentia trying former political and security officials, and it reported that the court likewise sentenced six former military and security officials to death in absentia in the same session.

Euronews reported that the court sentenced Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher in absentia and that Atef Najib attended the trial in a cage, while it also said the regime’s documented atrocities over 14 years included the use of chemical weapons and that the use of sarin was confirmed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Al Jazeera said Syria has repeatedly demanded that Russia extradite al-Assad, but it reported that Moscow has so far refused to extradite him and granted asylum, while Hitto said Moscow is unlikely to reverse course without “a major political breakthrough between the two countries.”

AP framed the stakes for accountability by quoting Zayadin that “Real accountability for Assad-era crimes depends on Syria building a justice system that lasts,” as it reported that the process needs to meet fair trial standards too.