# Syrian transitional justice legal proceedings

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/syrian-transitional-justice-legal-proceedings
> Updated: 2026-08-23T04:00:00.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

Following the departure of the Assad family from Damascus in December 2024, Syrian courts have initiated legal proceedings against former regime officials as part of transitional justice efforts.

In August 2026, a Damascus court sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and six other officials to death in absentia. The convictions included murder, torture, arbitrary detention, and crimes against humanity. Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan noted that the regime utilized state agencies to carry out these crimes.

During the same period, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus delivered a verdict for former Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun. Hassoun, who was detained in March 2025, was sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court found that he used his religious office to provide ‘spiritual cover’ for military operations, such as the use of barrel bombs, and was involved in financial extortion. Specifically, the court noted he incited sectarian violence and justified murder. The court also ordered the seizure of all his movable and immovable assets for the state treasury and barred him from receiving any future amnesty.

## Claims

- Ahmad Hassoun was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The court found that the religious establishment provided religious cover for military and security operations during the Assad era. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Hassoun provided financial support to the Jerusalem Division (Liwa al-Quds) involved in military operations. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Hassoun accepted money and gifts to facilitate the release of civilian detainees held by the former regime. (single source)
- The court ordered the seizure and confiscation of Hassoun’s movable and immovable assets. (single source)
- Hassoun is barred from benefiting from any general or special amnesty due to the severity of his crimes. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-23: Ahmad Hassoun sentenced to life in prison by Damascus court

Former Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun has been sentenced to life in prison by a Damascus court for war crimes and inciting violence during the Assad era.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/former-syrian-mufti-ahmed-hassoun-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment

### 2026-08-20: Syrian court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia

A Damascus court has sentenced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his brother to death in absentia for war crimes, while former Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun faces a pending verdict.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/syrian-court-sentences-bashar-al-assad-to-death-in-absentia-1

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Cite as: Syrian transitional justice legal proceedings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/syrian-transitional-justice-legal-proceedings