Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death in Absentia by Syrian Court Over War Crimes

A Syrian court has sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after finding him guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's long-running civil war.

The verdict marks the first reported conviction against Assad since his government was overthrown in December 2024. Assad fled Syria and later settled in Moscow with his family after rebel forces seized power, bringing his family's decades-long rule to an end.

Assad's Cousin Also Gets Death Sentence

The court also sentenced Atef Najib, Assad's cousin and former head of political security in Deraa province, to death.

Najib appeared in court wearing a prison uniform and was kept inside a cage during the proceedings. He was convicted of several serious offences, including murder, the intentional killing of children under the age of 15 and torture resulting in death.

Deraa holds particular significance in Syria's uprising as it is widely regarded as the place where the 2011 protests against Assad's government began.

How the Deraa Crackdown Triggered the Uprising

The unrest began in March 2011 after a group of teenagers were detained and allegedly tortured for writing anti-government graffiti.

Security forces responded with a violent crackdown, triggering demonstrations that quickly spread to other parts of Syria. The unrest eventually developed into a devastating civil war that lasted for years and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.

The new Syrian authorities have since begun pursuing officials who were associated with the former Assad government.

Maher al-Assad Among Those Sentenced

Assad's younger brother Maher al-Assad was also sentenced to death in absentia along with five other former military and security officials.

Maher previously commanded Syria's powerful Fourth Division and was considered one of the key figures in the former regime's security structure. He also left Syria for Russia after the fall of the Assad government.

Former defence minister Fahd al-Freij was among the other officials convicted by the court.

Victims Welcome the Verdict

For victims of the former regime, the verdict represents an important step towards accountability.

Nouha al-Masri, who was part of the prosecution team as well as a plaintiff in the case, lost her brother during the March 2011 crackdown in Deraa.

She described the ruling as recognition of the suffering endured by victims, families of those killed and people who disappeared or were detained during the conflict. She also called for further trials against officials accused of crimes under the former regime.

Assad's Extradition From Russia Remains Unclear

Despite the death sentence, bringing Assad back to Syria could prove difficult because he remains in Russia.

It is currently unclear whether Syria's new authorities will be able to secure the extradition of Bashar al-Assad or his brother Maher from Moscow.

The Syrian authorities had already issued an arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad in December on charges including murder and torture.

Since taking power, the new government has detained several former officials and security personnel. However, many senior members of the former regime remain outside Syria.

Assad's Rise to Power

Bashar al-Assad became president of Syria in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled the country for decades.

Bashar was not initially expected to become Syria's leader. His older brother Basil had been viewed as the likely successor until his death in a car accident in 1994.

After taking power, Bashar maintained the Assad family's influence over Syria's military, security and intelligence institutions. His presidency was ultimately dominated by the civil war that began in 2011.

His removal from power in December 2024 ended more than five decades of Assad family rule and opened a new chapter in Syria's political history.