A Damascus criminal court has convicted former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher, and cousin Atef Najib of crimes including murder, torture, and crimes against humanity, sentencing all three to death.
Syria's Criminal Court in Damascus delivered death sentences on Tuesday against three members of the former ruling family following convictions related to alleged atrocities committed during the country's civil war. Bashar al-Assad, who fled Syria in 2024 and currently resides in Russia, was found guilty of premeditated murder, torture, and crimes against humanity. His younger brother Maher al-Assad, also now in Russia, received a death sentence for premeditated murder and torture charges. Both men were convicted in absentia.
Atef Najib, the former head of political security in Deraa province, was physically present in the courtroom when his death sentence was announced. He was convicted of crimes against humanity including murder, the killing of children under 15, and torture resulting in death. Najib had remained in Syrian custody since his arrest in January 2025. He is particularly associated with initiating a violent government response to anti-government protests in Deraa in 2011, an incident widely regarded as a catalyst for Syria's broader uprising and subsequent conflict.
The court determined that al-Assad bore ultimate responsibility for the crimes as the country's highest decision-maker, using state machinery to carry out systematic violations. This marks the first major conviction under Syria's transitional authorities, which began prosecuting former government officials this year. International observers have noted that the verdict may encourage broader accountability efforts, with many Syrian communities seeking justice not only against leadership figures but also against lower-level officials involved in alleged abuses.
