Damascus Court Sentences Bashar al-Assad to Death in Absentia

A court in Damascus sentenced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia on August 11, 2026. The convictions cover war crimes, premeditated murder, torture, and crimes against humanity committed during a 14-year civil war. The court ruled that Bashar al-Assad mobilized state institutions to execute these crimes.

Atef Najib, a former security chief in Daraa and cousin to the Assads, was also sentenced to death. Najib was the only defendant present in court and was convicted for his role in the 2011 torture of teenagers and the subsequent deadly suppression of protests that catalyzed the national uprising.

Bashar and Maher al-Assad fled to Russia in December 2024 after a rebel offensive toppled the regime. While the current government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has requested their extradition, Russian officials have declined. These trials represent the first major effort by the current administration to implement transitional justice within Syria.