The Syrian court has delivered a historic verdict, sentencing former President Bashar al-Assad to death for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country’s protracted civil war. This marks the first death sentence against Assad, who fled to Moscow with his family after his regime’s overthrow in December 2024, effectively ending his family’s five-decade grip on power. The ruling, finalized following a lengthy trial, focuses on the alleged atrocities committed by the Assad regime, which has been responsible for widespread violence and civilian casualties.
The sentencing also includes a conviction against cousin Atef Najib, former head of political security in southern Syria’s Deraa province, who was sentenced to death. He appeared wearing a striped prison uniform inside a cage, a stark representation of the regime’s control. Deraa province, long considered the epicenter of the uprising against Assad’s rule, is widely recognized as the birthplace of the movement.
The case began in March 2011 when a detention and alleged torture of a group of teenagers accused of writing anti-government graffiti sparked widespread protests in Deraa City. These protests, met with a violent crackdown by security forces, escalated into a civil war that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, leaving a devastating humanitarian crisis.
Syria’s interim government, established shortly after the regime’s fall, has been attempting to prosecute officials linked to the Assad regime for more than 50 years. Najib, one of the highest-ranking officials to be put on trial, was convicted of crimes including murder, the intentional killing of children under 15, and torture leading to death. Six former military and security officials, including Maher al-Assad’s younger brother, were also sentenced to death, including Bashar al-Assad’s brother, Maher, who had fled to Moscow when the regime fell. The court also sentenced former defence minister Fahd al-Freij to death.
Outside the courtroom following the ruling, hundreds of people of all ages gathered, holding photos of their loved ones who were killed by the regime. Crowds chanted and honked horns, expressing a mixture of jubilation and liberation. A prominent man, speaking to the BBC, hoisted a photograph of his late father, stating that ‘the joy is indescribable.’ Another woman exclaimed, ‘The voices of the victims are finally heard. Justice has been achieved!’
The prosecution team, led by a prosecutor who lost her brother during the March 2011 crackdown, emphasized the regime’s long history of impunity and demands for accountability. The prosecution argues that this trial is a crucial step towards reclaiming the rights lost by the Syrian people and ensuring justice for all those who have suffered under Assad’s rule, recognizing the crimes committed and the immense suffering endured.”
According to the Syrian government, the court’s verdict is a significant step towards finally bringing those responsible for the violence to justice, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict and a commitment to ending the cycle of impunity.
The legal process has been criticized as being plagued by political maneuvering and lack of transparency. Analysts believe this verdict could embolden future perpetrators of atrocities, highlighting the urgent need for sustained international efforts to protect civilians and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations.
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Source: Adom Online
