A Syrian court has sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes. The verdict relates to atrocities committed during the country’s 14-year civil war, in which approximately 500,000 people died.
The former president was convicted of premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary arrest, and false imprisonment. Along with the brothers, their cousin Atef Najib was also sentenced to death. Najib, who attended the trial in a cage, was found guilty of leading the 2011 Daraa crackdown that sparked the civil war. Other officials were also sentenced to death for similar charges.
Bashar al-Assad and Maher fled to Moscow after being ousted in December 2024 by a lightning rebel offensive that toppled the dictatorial regime in 11 days. The ruling comes more than a year and a half after the former dictator was overthrown.
This verdict is the first of its kind under Syria's transitional leaders. Those who ousted Assad in 2024 have vowed to provide justice and accountability for crimes committed under his rule.