A Damascus court has sentenced former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, marking a significant legal development following the collapse of his government in December 2024. According to reports from the Saudi Gazette, the court found the former leader guilty of multiple charges, including premeditated murder, torture, and crimes against humanity, specifically citing the killing of civilians and children during his decades-long tenure.
The verdict also applies to several other high-ranking officials from the former regime. Maher al-Assad, the former president's brother, and security official Atef Najib were among those sentenced to death. While Najib appeared in person for the proceedings, the majority of the defendants, including Bashar al-Assad, were tried in absentia. The court has further ordered that international efforts be initiated to pursue the fugitives.
This judicial action follows the ousting of the Assad family from power during a major rebel offensive late last year, which brought an end to the brutal civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The sentencing is viewed as a symbolic and legal milestone for the new administration in Damascus as it attempts to address the grievances of a population long subjected to the former regime's iron-fisted rule. Legal experts note that the enforcement of these sentences remains contingent on the ability of authorities to locate and extradite those who fled the country following the regime's collapse.
The sentencing of Bashar al-Assad in absentia is confirmed by multiple independent news wires. The event follows the collapse of his regime in December 2024, as documented in the provided trusted baseline.
Original report: Saudi Gazette