A Syrian court has sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to multiple reports. The ruling was issued by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, marking a historic legal action against the former leader and his inner circle. Assad, who fled Damascus in December 2024 as Islamist-led forces advanced, is currently in Moscow, according to the Syrian court’s statement (dawn.com). The court also sentenced his brother Maher and cousin Atef Najib to death, with Najib appearing in a cage during the trial and being convicted for leading the 2011 Daraa crackdown that sparked the civil war (euronews.com).
The death sentence was handed down in absentia, as Assad has not returned to Syria since fleeing the country. The court cited charges of “crimes against humanity” and “war crimes” committed during the country’s civil war. The ruling is the first under the transitional authorities who have begun prosecuting former officials for their roles in the conflict (thehindu.com). The decision has drawn reactions from Syrians, with families of victims and supporters gathering outside the courthouse in Damascus to express their views (ca.news.yahoo.com).
