Syria sentences former ruler Assad to death over civil war atrocities

A Syrian court has sentenced former ruler Bashar al-Assad to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of atrocities committed during the country's nearly 14-year civil war.

It is the first such ruling under Syria's transitional leaders, who ousted Assad in December 2024, vowing to provide justice and accountability for crimes committed under his rule.

Assad fled to Moscow as Islamist-led forces closed in on Damascus after a lightning offensive.

At a court in Damascus, Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan convicted Assad of crimes including "premeditated murder, the intentional killing of more than one person, the intentional killing of children under 15 years ... torture, torture leading to death, and deprivation of liberty on multiple occasions - classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes".

"He is therefore sentenced to death."

Syria in April began proceedings against Assad and other officials accused of atrocities during the country's civil war, which erupted with the brutal repression of pro-democracy protesters by the former authorities.

More than half a million people were subsequently killed and millions displaced, while tens of thousands disappeared, many into the country's prison system.

The court also sentenced six former military and security officials in absentia to death, including Assad's brother, Maher, who ran the army's elite Fourth Division.

Those convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity included former defence minister Fahd al-Freij and Louay al-Ali, who headed military intelligence in Daraa province in 2011.

Former security official Atif Najib - the only one in the dock - was also sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed when he was head of political security in Daraa province, the cradle of Syria's uprising.

Aryan said Najib, a cousin of Assad who was arrested in January last year, had denied the charges and showed "no remorse".

Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais told state television that the rulings would be referred to Syria's court of cassation for a final decision, adding that defendants had the right to appeal within 30 days.

In a series of trial sessions held since late April, the court heard from witnesses and was presented with documents, images and at times classified information.

A spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday that "addressing long-standing demands for justice, accountability, and truth can contribute to restoring confidence in institutions ... and sustainable peace".

Human Rights Watch, which attended several of Najib's hearings and opposes capital punishment, called his case and other proceedings "a test of Syrian authorities' efforts to pursue credible justice for Assad-era abuses".

Syria's national commission for transitional justice called the ruling against Najib "an important milestone in the process of accountability".

The uprising against Assad began in Daraa in March 2011, after 15 students were arrested for allegedly writing anti-government slogans on the city's walls.

Residents said the students were tortured, leading to a protest demanding their release that ended in bloodshed.

Security personnel suppressed peaceful demonstrations with force and fired live ammunition to disperse sit-ins at several locations.

The Assad family ruled Syria for more than five decades, with Bashar taking the presidency in 2000 after the death of his father, Hafez.