A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over atrocities committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday in Damascus, is the first death sentence handed down against Assad under Syria’s transitional authorities, who took power after his government was ousted in December 2024.
Assad fled to Moscow as Islamist-led forces advanced on Damascus, bringing an end to his rule.
Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan said Assad was convicted of several serious offences, including premeditated murder, killings of civilians, torture resulting in death and repeated deprivation of liberty.
The court classified the offences as crimes against humanity and war crimes before imposing the death penalty.
Former Officials Also Sentenced
The court also sentenced six former military and security officials to death in absentia, including Assad’s brother Maher al-Assad, who previously commanded the Syrian army’s elite Fourth Division.
Former Defence Minister Fahd al-Freij and Louay al-Ali, who headed military intelligence in Daraa province, were among those convicted.
The officials were found guilty of offences including murder, incitement to murder, torture leading to death and unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Former security official Atif Najib, who was arrested in January 2025 and was the only defendant present in court, was also sentenced to death.
Najib, a cousin of Assad, was convicted over abuses allegedly committed while he headed political security in Daraa, the city where Syria’s 2011 uprising began.
The court said his offences included murder, the killing of children under 15 and torture resulting in death.
Syria’s Long Civil War
Syria’s uprising began in March 2011 after 15 students were arrested for allegedly writing anti-government slogans on walls in Daraa.
Protests demanding their release quickly spread, but security forces responded with force, including the use of live ammunition.
The crackdown eventually developed into a devastating civil war that killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions, while tens of thousands were reported missing.
The court proceedings against Assad and other former officials began in April as Syria’s transitional authorities sought to investigate alleged abuses committed during his rule.
The judge said Najib denied the charges against him and showed no remorse.
Assad became president of Syria in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, and remained in power until his government was overthrown in December 2024.
Source: AFP.
