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Ahmad Hassoun sentenced to life in prison by Damascus court
A Damascus criminal court has sentenced former Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun to life in prison. The verdict, delivered by the Fourth Criminal Court, convicted Hassoun of crimes against humanity and war crimes, specifically including inciting sectarian violence and justifying murder.
Judge Fakhreddine al-Aryan stated that the official religious institution under the former Bashar al-Assad administration was used to provide religious legitimacy for military operations, including the use of barrel bombs against civilian areas. The court also found that Hassoun provided financial support to the Jerusalem Division and accepted bribes and gifts in exchange for intervening to release detainees.
As part of the sentence, the court ordered the seizure of Hassoun’s movable and immovable assets for the state treasury and barred him from receiving any future amnesty. This trial is part of a broader transitional justice process in Syria aimed at holding high-ranking officials from the Assad era accountable for atrocities committed during the civil war.
Entities
Ahmad Hassoun · Ahmed Hassoun · Al-Quds Brigade · Bashar al-Assad · Damascus · Dar al-Ifta · Fakhreddine al-Aryan · Fourth Criminal Court · Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hassoun is barred from benefiting from any general or special amnesty due to the severity of his crimes. ch23.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The court ordered the seizure and confiscation of Hassoun’s movable and immovable assets. www.babnet.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] Hassoun provided financial support to the Jerusalem Division (Liwa al-Quds) involved in military operations. ch23.com · www.babnet.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ahmad Hassoun was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder. ch23.com · s.alwakeelnews.com · www.babnet.net · wtop.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The court found that the religious establishment provided religious cover for military and security operations during the Assad era. ch23.com · www.babnet.net · wtop.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hassoun accepted money and gifts to facilitate the release of civilian detainees held by the former regime. www.babnet.net