A Syrian court has issued a secret death sentence in absentia against Bashar al-Assad, the former dictator now residing in Russia, charging him with war crimes and crimes against humanity.
On Tuesday, 11 Aug 2026 GMT+7, a Syrian court sentenced former dictator Bashar al-Assad in absentia to death for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the decade-long civil war.
This is the first death sentence against Assad since he and his family fled Damascus to seek refuge in Moscow, Russia, after the Assad family’s regime, which lasted over five decades, collapsed in December 2024.
Besides Assad, the court also sentenced Atef Najib, his cousin and former head of political security in Deraa province, to death for murder, intentional killing of children under 15, and torture leading to death; Najib appeared in court wearing a prison uniform.
Meanwhile, Maher al-Assad, Bashar’s brother and former commander of the Syrian army’s 4th Division, along with several military and security officials including former Defense Minister Fahad al-Frej, were also sentenced to death in absentia; Maher has fled to Russia.
Deraa city was the flashpoint for the uprising in March 2011 after a group of youths were arrested and tortured for spraying anti-government graffiti, sparking protests and brutal government crackdowns that escalated into a civil war claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.
Outside the courthouse, many citizens gathered to celebrate, holding photos of relatives killed by the Assad regime, honking car horns, singing, and waving national flags.
A prosecutor’s representative said the people have awaited justice for 15 years and affirmed that in the new Syria, no one will be above the law.
Currently, Syria is governed by the interim government led by President Ahmed al-Shara, which is actively pursuing justice against former senior officials. However, coordinating the extradition of Assad and other high-ranking figures from Russia remains challenging.
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Source:bbc