Former Assad Cousin Atef Najib Faces War Crimes Trial in Damascus

On May 10, 2026, Atef Najib, a cousin of former President Bashar al‑Assad and former head of the Political Security branch in Daraa, appeared before the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus for the second hearing of his trial.

He is charged with war‑crimes‑type offenses tied to the early days of the 2011 uprising, including the arrest and torture of schoolchildren, the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters, and responsibility for the March 2011 Al‑Omari Mosque massacre in Daraa. The indictment also accuses him of overseeing torture that led to deaths.

Najib denied all accusations, arguing that other security agencies – Military Security, State Security and Air Force Intelligence – carried out the arrests and shootings. He claimed his tenure lasted only a few days and that he reported the situation as calm to Damascus.

The proceedings mark the first time an Assad‑linked official has been tried for abuses from the uprising and are being watched as an early test of Syria’s emerging transitional‑justice framework, with experts warning that the legal definitions used may be flawed.