A Syrian court has sentenced former leader Bashar al-Assad to death after convicting him in absentia of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the country’s long civil war. The ruling, handed down on Tuesday in Damascus, marks the first death sentence issued under Syria’s new transitional authorities following Assad’s ouster last December.
The judge found Assad guilty of premeditated murder, the killing of children under 15, torture resulting in death, and repeated deprivation of liberty. He was also convicted of broader crimes against humanity and war crimes. The court delivered the same sentence to six other former military and security officials tried in their absence, including Assad’s brother Maher, who commanded the army’s elite Fourth Division, as well as former defence minister Fahd al-Freij and Louay al-Ali, who led military intelligence in Daraa province.
Only one defendant, Atif Najib, appeared in court. A cousin of Assad and former head of political security in Daraa, he denied the charges and showed no remorse, according to the judge. The proceedings, which began in April, heard testimony from witnesses and reviewed documents and classified materials related to the repression of protests that sparked the war more than a decade ago.
More than half a million people were killed during the conflict, with millions displaced and tens of thousands detained or disappeared into the prison system. The justice minister has said the verdicts will be reviewed by the court of cassation, with defendants given 30 days to appeal.
A United Nations spokesman welcomed efforts to address demands for justice and accountability, noting that such steps can help restore trust in institutions and support lasting peace.
