DAMASCUS, 12 August 2026 (TON): A Syrian court sentenced ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead.
The sentences at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus are the first against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power came to an end 20 months ago.
Syrian Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan during a court session that was aired live on state TV, “Bashar Assad used State agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity”.
Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, who was convicted of overseeing a crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war was also sentenced to death.
Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia after the Government’s fall in December 2024 and received political asylum. Syria’s new US installed rulers have asked Russia to hand over the Assad.