A Syrian court issued a death sentence in absentia to former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his younger brother on Tuesday for their involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict, causing approximately 500,000 fatalities. These verdicts, delivered at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, mark the first legal actions against Assad and his close associates since their decades-long reign concluded 20 months ago.
Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, in a televised court session, asserted that Bashar Assad exploited state mechanisms to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally condemned to death in the same trial was Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, found guilty of supervising a brutal crackdown in Daraa province, triggering the uprising that evolved into the civil war.
Under tight security, Najib, donning a prisoner’s attire, stood inside a cage as the judge pronounced the sentence, drawing a crowd outside the central Damascus courthouse eager to hear the outcome. Following the government’s fall in December 2024, Assad and his brother Maher sought refuge in Russia and were granted political asylum. The new Syrian authorities have since requested Russia to extradite the Assads.
Atef Najib, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in April 2011, held a significant position as a former Syrian army brigadier general overseeing the political security division in Daraa province during Assad’s rule in 2011. Notably, his tenure involved the arrest and torture of over a dozen teenagers for anti-government graffiti, sparking widespread protests against Assad’s oppressive security policies.
Some of Najib’s victims, now present at the courthouse, shared their sentiments with The Associated Press. Mouawiya Sayasneh, recalling those who perished in the crackdown, expressed satisfaction with the death sentence handed to Atef Najib, remarking on the significance of justice prevailing after years of suffering. Another detainee from 2011, Nayef Abazeid, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that true closure would only come with Bashar Assad’s execution.
Human Rights Watch representative Hiba Zayadin highlighted the gravity of the verdict, advocating against the death penalty in all instances, including this case. Zayadin emphasized the importance of upholding fair trial standards and ensuring Najib’s right to appeal, underscoring the necessity for a robust justice system in Syria to address past atrocities effectively.