A court in Damascus has sentenced former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to death in absentia after convicting him of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The historic ruling marks the first capital conviction against Assad for atrocities committed during Syria’s 14-year civil war, which claimed the lives of over half a million people.
The capital sentence was also handed down to his younger brother, Maher Al-Assad, a former top military commander, as well as their maternal cousin, former Brigadier General Atef Najib.
Key Figures Convicted
| Figure | Role Under Regime | Verdict / Sentence | Status |
| Bashar Al-Assad | Ex-President of Syria | Death Penalty (in absentia) | In Exile (Moscow) |
| Maher Al-Assad | Military Commander | Death Penalty (in absentia) | In Exile (Moscow) |
| Atef Najib | Head of Political Security (Daraa) | Death Penalty | In Custody |
Details of the Ruling
The court highlighted the specific role of Atef Najib, who headed the Political Security Branch in Daraa province during the initial 2011 uprisings. The bench found him directly responsible for:
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The deliberate killing of children under the age of 15.
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State-sanctioned torture leading to death.
Because Najib remained in Syria following the regime’s collapse, he became one of the highest-ranking former officials to face trial in person.
Background: Fall of the Assad Regime
The trials are being conducted under Syria’s transitional government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, which took power after opposition forces closed in on Damascus in December 2024.
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Exile to Moscow: Assad and his immediate family fled to Russia as his government collapsed, ending over 50 years of dynastic rule by the Assad family (started by Hafez Al-Assad).
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Precedent: This ruling represents the first major trial outcome by the transitional judicial authorities, who have begun prosecuting key figures from the previous government both in person and in absentia.
