A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over atrocities committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday in Damascus, is the first major death sentence handed down against Assad by Syria’s transitional authorities, who took power after his government was toppled in December 2024.
Assad fled to Moscow after Islamist-led forces launched a rapid offensive and captured Damascus.
Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan found Assad guilty of several offences, including premeditated murder, the intentional killing of more than one person, the killing of children under 15, torture, torture resulting in death and repeated deprivation of liberty.
The offences were classified by the court as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
“He is therefore sentenced to death,” the judge declared.
Syria began proceedings in April against Assad and other former officials accused of committing atrocities during the civil war, which began in 2011 after the former government violently suppressed pro-democracy protests.
More than 500,000 people were killed during the conflict, while millions were displaced and tens of thousands disappeared, many of them after being detained in government prisons.
The court also sentenced six former military and security officials to death in absentia, including Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, who commanded the elite Fourth Division before fleeing the country.
Others sentenced to death included former Defence Minister Fahd al-Freij and Louay al-Ali, who headed military intelligence in Daraa province in 2011.
The officials were convicted of offences including murder, incitement to murder, torture resulting in death and repeated deprivation of liberty, all classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Former Security Chief Also Sentenced
Atif Najib, a former security official and the only one of the defendants present in court, was also sentenced to death.
Najib, a cousin of Assad, was convicted over crimes allegedly committed while he headed political security in Daraa, the southern city where Syria’s 2011 uprising began.
He was arrested in January 2025 and found guilty of murder, the intentional killing of children under 15 and torture leading to death.
The court described the offences as crimes against humanity and said the death penalty was the “harshest punishment” available.
Judge Aryan said Najib denied the allegations and showed no remorse during the proceedings.
Dozens of people gathered outside the courthouse for the verdict, with many travelling from Daraa. Some carried photographs of relatives who they said were killed, disappeared or imprisoned under Assad-era officials.
Ramzi Abu Naboud carried a photograph of his brother, Ahmed, who was killed when security forces broke up a sit-in at Daraa’s Al-Omari Mosque in 2011.
He welcomed the ruling, saying the judgment offered some measure of justice even though it could not bring back those who died.
Lawyer Amer Kazzaz said the convicted persons had the right to appeal if there had been an error in applying the law or a serious professional mistake by the court.
However, Human Rights Watch criticised the use of the death penalty.
Hiba Zayadin of the rights organisation said the proceedings reflected years of suffering, while stressing that Human Rights Watch opposes capital punishment in all circumstances.
She also warned that genuine accountability would depend on Syria establishing a durable and credible justice system.
Syria’s National Commission for Transitional Justice described the ruling against Najib as an important milestone in efforts to hold perpetrators of serious crimes accountable.
How the Syrian War Began
Syria’s uprising against Assad began in Daraa in March 2011 after 15 students were arrested for allegedly writing anti-government slogans on walls in the city.
Residents accused security forces of torturing the students, triggering protests demanding their release.
The demonstrations were violently suppressed, with security personnel using live ammunition against protesters.
Najib was removed from his position after the crackdown as the protests spread to other parts of the country.
The conflict that followed lasted nearly 14 years and devastated much of Syria.
The Assad family ruled Syria for more than five decades. Bashar al-Assad became president in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad.
