A Syrian court issued a death sentence in absentia for former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his younger brother on Tuesday for their involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict, resulting in approximately 500,000 deaths.
This marks the first time that Assad or any members of his inner circle have been sentenced since their decades-long rule came to an end 20 months ago. Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, during a live broadcast on state TV, stated that Bashar Assad utilized state institutions to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Atef Najib, Assad’s maternal cousin, was also sentenced to death in the same trial for overseeing a brutal crackdown in the Daraa province that sparked the uprising and subsequent civil war. Najib, who wore a prisoner’s uniform inside a cage in court, was a key figure sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in April 2011 and is among the highest-ranking officials to face trial.
Under Najib’s leadership as a former Syrian army brigadier general in Daraa province in 2011, a group of teenagers detained and tortured for anti-government graffiti initiated widespread protests against Assad’s regime, leading to a prolonged civil war that culminated in Assad’s removal.
Victims of Najib’s actions, some of whom were present in court, expressed relief at the verdict, with one stating that justice had been served after years of suffering. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch criticized the use of the death penalty in this case, emphasizing the importance of fair trial standards and the establishment of a lasting justice system in Syria.
Bashar Assad and his brother Maher sought refuge in Russia following the collapse of their government in December 2024, prompting Syria’s new leadership to request their extradition from Russia.