Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death in Absence

A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother, Maher al-Assad, to death in absentia. The court found them guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The verdict, handed down by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, is the first court decision against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s nearly 50-year rule ended in December 2024.

“Bashar Assad used state institutions to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Judge Fakhreddin al-Arian said in a hearing broadcast live on state television.

Assad's maternal cousin, Atef Najib, who was involved in the brutal crackdown on protests in Daraa province in 2011, was also sentenced to death. It was the case of the detained and tortured teenagers in Daraa that became one of the main catalysts for the mass protests.

Bashar and Maher Assad fled to Russia after the overthrow of the government and were granted political asylum. The new Syrian government has demanded their extradition from Russia.

Protests in Syria that began in 2011 have turned into a protracted civil war against the backdrop of a brutal government response. The conflict has killed about half a million people and ended with the overthrow of Assad's government in December 2024.