Damascus: A Syrian court has found former President Bashar al-Assad guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced him to death.
According to AFP, the verdict was delivered in Assad’s absence. After rebels entered Damascus in December 2024, Assad fled to Russia along with his brother Maher al-Assad.
In the same case, Assad’s cousin and former military official Atef Najib was also sentenced to death. Najib was accused of leading the crackdown on anti-government protesters in the southern province of Daraa in 2011, an event that triggered an uprising and a prolonged civil war in the country.
During the court proceedings, Atef Najib was presented in a cage wearing prison uniform under heavy security, where the judge announced the sentence.
Atef Najib is a former brigadier general who served as head of political security in Daraa during Bashar al-Assad’s rule in 2011.
This ruling against Bashar al-Assad is being described as the first major decision by Syria’s transitional authorities targeting key figures of the former government. The transitional administration has launched a series of cases against individuals linked to the previous regime, whether they are present in court or residing abroad.
