A Syrian court handed down death sentences in absentia to former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his younger brother for their involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict, which resulted in approximately 500,000 deaths.
The verdict, announced at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, marks the first time that Assad or members of his inner circle have faced such severe consequences since the family’s five-decade rule ended two years ago. Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, speaking during a televised court session, stated that Bashar Assad had utilized state agencies to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Additionally sentenced to death in the same trial was Assad’s cousin Atef Najib, who was found guilty of overseeing a brutal crackdown in the province of Daraa that triggered the uprising and subsequent civil war.
A high level of security surrounded the courtroom as Najib, clad in a prisoner’s uniform, listened to the judge announce the sentence. Outside the courthouse in central Damascus, a crowd gathered to hear the outcome.
Following the fall of the government in December 2024, Assad and his brother Maher sought refuge in Russia and were granted political asylum. The new leadership in Syria has requested Russia to extradite the Assad brothers.
Atef Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in April 2011, was detained and is one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial. He served as the head of the political security branch in Daraa province in 2011 under Assad’s regime.
During Najib’s tenure, a group of teenagers who protested against the government by painting anti-regime messages on a school wall were arrested and subjected to torture. This incident sparked mass demonstrations against the oppressive actions of Assad’s security forces, leading to a 14-year civil war that culminated in Assad’s removal through a rebel offensive.
Victims of Najib’s actions, including individuals who were teenagers at the time of the crackdown, were present at the trial. Mouawiya Sayasneh, reflecting on the loss of those who perished during the crackdown, expressed relief at Najib’s death sentence. Another individual, Nayef Abazeid, who was detained as a 13-year-old in 2011, voiced satisfaction with the verdict, stating that true justice would only be served when Bashar Assad faces a similar fate.
Maher Assad, a former commander of the Syrian military’s 4th Armored Division, has been accused by opposition activists of various crimes, including killings, torture, extortion, drug trafficking, and operating detention centers.
Human Rights Watch, while acknowledging the pain endured over the years by those affected, opposes the death penalty in all cases, emphasizing the need for fair trials. Hiba Zayadin, a Syria researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the importance of ensuring a fair appeals process for Najib and the establishment of a lasting justice system in Syria to address crimes committed during the Assad era.