In brief
In a historic trial, a Syrian judge condemned former dictator Bashar al‑Assad to death in absentia, convicting him of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ruling also sentenced his cousin Atef Najib and several other officials in the same manner. The crowd outside the courthouse erupted in relief, demanding the end of a decades‑long regime and justice for victims. While the new Syrian leadership seeks to capture the Assad brothers from Moscow, no extraditions have yet materialised. The case signals the beginning of a long judicial process aimed at ending impunity for Syria's past crimes.
In a landmark decision, a Syrian court sentenced former dictator Bashar al‑Assad to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war.
The ruling came after the 2024 overthrow of the Assad family dynasty, ending more than five decades of Al‑Awlad rule.
Alongside Assad, his cousin Atef Najib—former head of political security in Deraa province—was condemned to death while standing in a cage, an image that underscored the severity of the sentences.
Deraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising, saw brutal crackdowns that sparked nationwide protests, eventually leading to the civil war where hundreds of thousands lost their lives.
Since the interim government took over, it has already tried and convicted officials linked to the old regime. Najib was found guilty of murder, the intentional killing of children under 15, and torture leading to death.
The court also sentenced six other ex‑military and security officials in absentia, including Bashar al‑Assad’s younger brother Maher and former defence minister Fahd al‑Freij.
While the new authorities have issued warrants against Assad for murder and torture, and have attempted to extradite him from Moscow, no successful extradition has yet occurred.
On the courthouse steps, jubilant citizens held photographs of lost loved ones, cheered, and demanded the prisoners be hanged. One man said, “God willing we will see Bashar al‑Assad and all his aides hanging on the gallows.”
Nouha al‑Masri, a prosecutor who lost her brother in the March 2011 Deraa crackdown, declared, “The voices of the victims are finally heard. Justice has been achieved!”
She added, “This is not the end of trials. In the new Syria, no one will enjoy impunity from this day forward.”
