A Syrian criminal court in Damascus sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother, Maher al-Assad, to death in absentia Tuesday over crimes committed during the country’s 14-year civil war, according to multiple reports.
The landmark verdict also sentenced Assad’s cousin Atef Najib, who was present in court, to death. Najib was a senior security official in Daraa province when protests erupted there in 2011, helping turn the southern city into a focal point of the uprising against Assad’s government.
The convictions mark the first death sentences against Assad and members of his family by Syria’s post-Assad authorities.
Assad and His Brother Were Tried in Absentia
Bashar al-Assad and Maher al-Assad were not present for Tuesday’s proceedings. Both fled Syria after insurgents captured Damascus in December 2024 and the Assad government collapsed.
The brothers are now in Russia, according to reporting on their whereabouts. Because they were outside Syria, the court proceeded against them in absentia.
The court convicted Bashar al-Assad of offenses including premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity, according to reports from the hearing. Maher al-Assad was also sentenced to death in the case.
The verdict represents a major moment in Syria’s effort to prosecute senior figures from the former government following the end of Assad family rule.
Atef Najib Sentenced After Daraa Crackdown
Najib, a former brigadier general who headed the Political Security Branch in Daraa, was the only one of the three defendants present in court.
He appeared inside a courtroom cage wearing a prison uniform as the judge announced the sentence.
Najib’s role in Daraa has particular significance because the province became the birthplace of the 2011 uprising. The initial protests followed the detention and alleged mistreatment of teenagers accused of writing anti-government graffiti.
A report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights said Najib’s trial began in April 2026 and described the proceedings as the first major criminal case brought by Syria’s transitional authorities against a prominent figure from the former security apparatus.
How the Syrian War Began
Syria’s conflict began in 2011 after government forces violently responded to pro-democracy demonstrations that emerged during the Arab Spring.
The conflict quickly expanded beyond the original protests. Government forces, opposition groups, extremist organizations and foreign powers became involved in a war that devastated much of the country.
The fighting lasted roughly 14 years and killed about half a million people, according to widely cited estimates.
Assad remained in power throughout most of the conflict despite international pressure, armed opposition and territorial challenges from groups including the Islamic State.
His government ultimately collapsed in December 2024 after a rapid rebel offensive reached Damascus.
A New Era of Accountability
The court proceedings represent an early test of Syria’s ability to hold senior officials from the former Assad government accountable inside the country’s own judicial system.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights said the proceedings are being conducted under Syria’s existing criminal laws alongside international legal principles concerning crimes against humanity and war crimes. It also noted that the trial faces significant questions about procedural standards and the legal framework being used to prosecute international crimes.
The case therefore carries significance beyond the sentences themselves. It could establish how Syria’s transitional authorities approach accountability for atrocities committed during the civil war.
What Happens to Assad Now?
The death sentence does not mean Assad is immediately in Syrian custody.
Because Bashar and Maher al-Assad were sentenced in absentia and are outside Syria, any attempt to enforce the sentences would depend on their location and the willingness of other authorities to cooperate with Syrian judicial authorities.
There is currently no indication from the reporting available that Russia plans to surrender either brother to Syria.
The case could therefore become an important test of whether Syria’s new authorities can translate domestic convictions into actual custody of former regime figures living abroad.
Why the Verdict Matters
The ruling is significant because Bashar al-Assad ruled Syria for nearly a quarter-century and inherited power from his father, Hafez al-Assad.
His government survived years of civil war but ultimately fell in late 2024. The new proceedings represent a fundamental shift from the era in which Assad’s government controlled Syria’s courts and security institutions.
For victims and families affected by the conflict, the trials could provide an avenue for documenting alleged abuses and pursuing accountability. At the same time, the legal process will face scrutiny over due process, evidence and the standards used to prosecute crimes committed during the war.
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