A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over crimes committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus convicted Assad of premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity, according to reports by TheCable and other international media.
Assad, who was ousted in December 2024 following a rebel offensive that brought his government’s rule to an end, was tried in absentia after fleeing to Russia, where he was granted asylum.
His brother, Maher al-Assad, and cousin Atef Najib were also sentenced to death. Najib, a former security official in Daraa, was the only one among the three tried while in custody.
The court’s ruling relates to abuses committed during the Syrian civil war, including killings, torture and arbitrary arrests. The conflict, which began after anti-government protests erupted in 2011, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.
The verdict marks the first major domestic conviction of Assad or senior members of his inner circle since his regime was overthrown in December 2024.
The ruling has been welcomed by some Syrians and victims’ groups as a step towards accountability, although human rights advocates have raised concerns about the fairness of the proceedings and the use of the death penalty.
Assad remains in Russia, meaning the sentence cannot immediately be enforced. The court has also ordered that the former president and his brother be pursued internationally.
