Damascus, Aug 2026 : A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after finding him guilty of a series of grave crimes committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war. The landmark verdict marks the first death sentence handed down against a former head of state by Syria’s transitional authorities, who came to power after overthrowing Assad in December 2024 and pledged to pursue accountability for alleged abuses committed during his rule.
Assad fled Syria and took refuge in Moscow after Islamist-led forces launched a lightning offensive and advanced towards Damascus. He has remained outside the country since the fall of his government.
At a court in Damascus, Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan convicted Assad of multiple offences, including premeditated murder, the intentional killing of more than one person, the deliberate killing of children under the age of 15, torture, torture resulting in death and repeated deprivation of liberty. The court classified the offences as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
“He is therefore sentenced to death,” the judge declared while announcing the verdict.
The proceedings against Assad and several former officials began in April as part of a broader effort by Syria’s transitional authorities to investigate atrocities allegedly committed during the civil war. The conflict began in 2011 after the former government responded violently to pro-democracy demonstrations.
The Syrian conflict resulted in the deaths of more than half a million people, while millions were forced from their homes. Tens of thousands also disappeared, many of them believed to have been detained in Syria’s notorious prison system.
The court also sentenced six former military and security officials to death in absentia. Among them was Assad’s younger brother, Maher al-Assad, who commanded the powerful Fourth Division of the Syrian Army before fleeing the country. Former Defence Minister Fahd al-Freij and Louay al-Ali, who headed military intelligence in Daraa province in 2011, were also convicted.
The officials were found guilty of offences including murder, incitement to murder, torture resulting in death and repeated deprivation of liberty. The court classified these acts as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Former security official Atif Najib, the only one of the accused present in court, was separately sentenced to death. Najib, Assad’s cousin, had headed political security in Daraa province, the birthplace of Syria’s uprising in 2011. He was arrested in January 2025.
The court convicted Najib of murder, the intentional killing of children under 15 and torture leading to death. Judge Aryan said the crimes attributed to Najib constituted crimes against humanity and described the death penalty as the harshest punishment available. Najib denied the charges and, according to the judge, showed no remorse.
Syria’s uprising began in Daraa in March 2011 after 15 school students were arrested for allegedly writing anti-government slogans on walls. Residents later alleged that the children were tortured. Their detention triggered protests demanding their release, which were met with a violent security crackdown.
Security forces used force against peaceful demonstrators and fired live ammunition to disperse sit-ins in several locations. Najib was subsequently dismissed as the protests spread to other parts of Syria.
Bashar al-Assad assumed the Syrian presidency in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled the country for nearly three decades. His presidency ultimately ended after the opposition offensive that brought down his government in December 2024.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
