Syria: Former President Assad Sentenced to Death in Absentia for War Crimes
A court in Syria has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, along with his younger brother Maher al-Assad and a maternal cousin, after convicting them of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war.
The verdict, announced by a court operating under Syria's transitional authorities, is the first such ruling against members of the ousted government. The court also sentenced Maher al-Assad, a former military commander, and Atef Najib, a former brigadier general who headed the Political Security Branch in Daraa province in 2011.
According to court statements, Najib was found guilty of "intentional killing of children under 15" and "torture leading to death," acts described by the court as crimes against humanity. He was given the death penalty as the harshest punishment.
Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Moscow in December 2024 as opposition forces took control of Damascus. His brother Maher reportedly left the country as well. Najib remained in Syria and was later detained.
The death sentences are the first of their kind issued by the transitional authorities, which began trials this year of former officials, both in person and in absentia. The proceedings have drawn attention from international observers, though some have raised concerns about due process and the use of capital punishment.
Syria's conflict began in March 2011, when protests inspired by the Arab Spring swept the country. The government's crackdown in Daraa, where Najib held authority, is widely seen as a trigger for the broader uprising. The ensuing civil war drew in regional and international powers, leading to a complex and devastating conflict.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the war has killed more than half a million people. Millions of Syrians have been displaced, with many fleeing to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Europe.
Under the Assad family's five-decade rule, Syria was governed through a tightly controlled security apparatus. After Assad's ouster, the transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought to establish stability. Al-Sharaa, a former Islamist commander, has pledged to build a political system that represents all Syrian communities, though sectarian tensions remain.
Given that Bashar and Maher al-Assad are outside the country's jurisdiction, the death sentences are largely symbolic. However, they mark a significant step for Syria's judiciary as it confronts the legacy of the war.
