A Syrian court has handed down death sentences in absentia to former President Bashar Assad and his brother for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the nation's civil conflict, while a detained cousin faced trial in person.
A Syrian court delivered death sentences in absentia on Tuesday against ousted President Bashar Assad and his younger brother Maher, holding them responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed throughout Syria's 14-year conflict. The civil war resulted in approximately half a million deaths, according to court proceedings.
Also sentenced to death was Atef Najib, Assad's maternal cousin, who faced charges related to his role overseeing a military crackdown in the southern Daraa province. That crackdown is widely considered a catalyst for the initial uprising that eventually escalated into the broader civil war. Unlike Assad and his brother, Najib appeared for his sentencing, standing in a secure courtroom wearing prisoner garments as the judge announced his conviction.
Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general who previously headed the Political Security Branch in Daraa, became one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial for actions during the conflict. His prosecution marks a significant step in accountability efforts within Syria's judicial system.
Both Assad and Maher fled to Russia following the collapse of regime control in Damascus in December 2014, when opposition forces entered the capital. Their absence from the courtroom underscores the ongoing geopolitical complexities surrounding accountability for Syria's devastating conflict, as the former leaders remain beyond the reach of Syrian courts from their exile.
