A Damascus criminal court sentences Bashar al-Assad and others to death...

A Damascus criminal court sentences Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and cousin Atef Najib to death over crimes committed during Syria’s civil war. The ruling marks Syria’s first domestic judicial accountability measure against the former regime leadership after Assad’s fall. The case focuses heavily on the 2011 Daraa crackdown, including the torture of children and killing of protesters. Assad and Maher are sentenced in absentia while reportedly sheltered in Russia, limiting enforcement. Najib, who is present in court, may still appeal.

Tuesday, 11 August, 2026