Syrian court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia

A court in Damascus has sentenced ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and six former officials to death in absentia. The sentences follow convictions for murder, torture, arbitrary detention, and crimes against humanity committed during the Syrian civil war. Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan stated that the Assad regime used state agencies to commit these crimes.

The Assad family fled Damascus in December 2024 as rebel forces took the capital and reportedly received asylum in Moscow. While the sentences are symbolic due to their absence, other officials, such as Atef Najib, remain in Syrian custody.

In a related legal proceeding, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus is preparing to deliver a verdict for Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, the former Grand Mufti of Syria. Prosecutors have requested the death penalty for Hassoun, who was detained at Damascus International Airport in March 2025. Hassoun, known as the ‘barrel bomb mufti’ for his rhetoric supporting the former regime against opponents, is being tried as part of transitional justice efforts.