Syrian Court Sentences Former President Bashar al-Assad to Death in Absentia

A Syrian court has sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity, murder, and torture.

Key points

• The Damascus criminal court also handed down death sentences to former security official Atef Najib and, according to Reuters and AP reports cited by other outlets, former president Bashar al-Assad's younger brother Maher al-Assad.
• The ruling marks the first formal verdict against al-Assad since his government was ousted in December 2024 following an insurgent offensive.
• Reports indicate that following the fall of his regime, al-Assad fled Syria and sought refuge in Russia.

Why it matters

This death sentence represents a major legal and political milestone in Syria's transition following the collapse of the decades-long al-Assad family rule.