A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia on Tuesday, convicting him of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in Syria’s 14-year conflict. The ruling marks the first conviction against Assad, who was ousted in December 2024 during a rebel offensive that ended his family’s decades-long rule (arabnews.pk).
Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia after the fall of the Syrian government, seeking political asylum. Syria’s new authorities have requested Russia’s cooperation in handing them over (nbcnews.com). The court’s decision comes as transitional authorities in Syria begin prosecuting former officials for their actions during the civil war (dawn.com).
The charges against Assad include premeditated murder, torture, and arbitrary arrests, with the court citing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrians (thesun.co.uk). Atef Najib, a security official under Assad, was also sentenced to death (thehindu.com). The ruling underscores the ongoing legal efforts to hold former leaders accountable for their actions during the conflict (m.rediff.com).
The trial took place in Damascus, with Assad’s absence due to his exile in Moscow. The court’s decision reflects a shift in Syria’s legal landscape as new authorities seek justice for victims of the war (illawarramercury.com.au).
