A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Bashar al Assad and his younger brother Maher al Assad to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Syria’s 14 year conflict.
The ruling by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus marks the first death sentences against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decade rule ended in December 2024.
Judge Fakhareddine al Aryan said Bashar al Assad had used state institutions to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. His maternal cousin Atef Najib, a former senior security official, was also sentenced to death after being convicted over the crackdown in Daraa that helped trigger the uprising in 2011.
Najib, who served as head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa, was accused of overseeing the arrest and torture of teenagers who had written anti government graffiti on a school wall. The incident became one of the early catalysts for mass protests that later developed into a devastating civil war.
The conflict lasted 14 years and killed about half a million people, while millions were displaced. Syrian opposition activists have accused Assad’s security forces and military units of widespread killings, torture and other abuses.
Bashar and Maher al Assad fled to Russia after rebels overthrew the government in December 2024 and were granted political asylum. Syria’s new authorities have repeatedly asked Moscow to hand the brothers over to face justice.
Maher previously commanded Syria’s elite 4th Armored Division, which has been accused by opposition groups of involvement in killings, torture, extortion, drug trafficking and the operation of detention facilities.
The death sentences represent a major step in Syria’s efforts to hold former members of the Assad government accountable for abuses committed during the conflict, although the sentences against the two Assad brothers cannot be carried out while they remain outside Syria.
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