The Criminal Court in Damascus has issued an absentee death sentence for deposed Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad, his brother Maher, and their cousin Atef Najib, for their involvement in murder, torture, and abuses against Syrians.
This sentence follows Al-Assad's escape to Moscow with his family and associates after being ousted in December 2024. It marks the first verdict issued by transitional authorities as they undertake trials of former regime officials both in absentia and in person this year.
The court found Bashar Al-Assad guilty of deliberate murder of numerous victims, including children, and torture, highlighting his use of state apparatuses to commit acts tantamount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Maher Al-Assad was similarly convicted of deliberate murder, intent, torture, and incitement, for which he also received a death sentence.
The Criminal Court in Damascus has decided to pursue international prosecution of both Bashar and Maher Al-Assad as part of the legal actions against them.
Atef Najib was convicted and sentenced to death for deliberate murder and torture during his tenure as the head of the Political Security branch in Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 protests against the former regime.
The court affirmed that Najib's alleged actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, emphasizing that his denial of the charges conflicts with the evidence presented.