Syrian Court Sentences Bashar Assad, Maher Assad to Death in Absentia for War Crimes

A Syrian court in Damascus sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country’s 14-year civil war, which left about half a million people dead.

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

AP News

The verdicts were read by judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan during a court session aired live on state TV, and the judge said, "Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity."

عاجل

Atef Najib, the former head of political security in Daraa, was the only defendant to appear, standing inside a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read his sentence aloud.

The BBC reported that Najib was convicted of crimes including murder, "the intentional killing of children under 15" and "torture leading to death," and that the court also sentenced six former military and security officials in absentia to death.

AP said the verdicts were the first against Assad or any members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power ended 20 months ago, and that Assad and Maher had fled to Russia after the Syrian government’s collapse in December 2024.

Outside the courthouse, crowds gathered holding pictures of loved ones killed by the regime, with the BBC describing clapping, chanting, and cars honking as people reacted to the ruling.

One man told the BBC, "The joy is indescribable," hoisting up a photo of his late father, while another woman said, "The voices of the victims are finally heard. Justice has been achieved!"

ABC News

AP reported that some human rights groups expressed concerns that the trials were rushed, potentially unfair, and that the rights group Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all cases because it is "cruel and irreversible, especially when a fair trial isn’t guaranteed."

The Associated Press also quoted attorney Adnan al-Masalmeh, who represented families of Najib’s victims, saying, "Today is the day of justice for all the wounded, martyrs, detainees and Syrians who were forced to leave their country."

AP said the Washington-based Syria Justice and Accountability Center described Tuesday’s conviction of Najib as a "historical step" while warning it exposed major flaws, including rushed proceedings and witness testimony that did not connect Atef to the crimes he was charged with.

The sentencing comes as Syria’s transitional authorities, who ousted Assad in December 2024 after the civil war, have pledged that justice will be done for crimes committed under his rule and that the verdicts will be followed by further accountability.

“"He is therefore sentenced to death."”

France 24

France 24 reported that Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan convicted Assad for crimes including "premeditated murder" and "deprivation of liberty on multiple occasions" and stated, "He is therefore sentenced to death."

AP said Najib could appeal, and it also reported that the only former official sentenced to death and in custody is Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, while Assad and Maher had fled to Russia where they received asylum.

Euronews quoted Caroline Rose of the Soufan Center saying, "Realistically, the sentencing will only apply to Najib, who is in Syrian custody," and it added that Bashar and Maher remain in Russia and likely will not be handed over by Moscow.

NPR reported that Syria’s new rulers have asked Russia to hand the Assads over, and it noted that Najib was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in April 2011 and later detained, with the sentences at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus described as the first against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s rule ended.