Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death in Absentia Over War Crimes
Syria’s transitional authorities have handed down their first death sentence against a former regime figure, accusing Assad of war crimes and crimes against humanity
Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has been sentenced to death in absentia by a Syrian court
A Syrian court has sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after convicting him of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country’s long-running civil war.
The ruling marks the first death sentence issued by Syria’s transitional authorities against a senior figure from the former government. Authorities have begun prosecuting members of the Assad-era leadership both in person and in absentia.
Assad was not present in court. He fled Syria with members of his family in December 2024 as rebel forces advanced towards Damascus. He subsequently went to Moscow, where he has remained since the collapse of his government.
Born in 1965, Assad became president in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled Syria for nearly three decades.
His presidency was ultimately defined by the civil war that erupted after the Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011.
Pro-democracy demonstrations began that year as Syrians took to the streets demanding political change. The government’s response involved a violent crackdown, and the unrest developed into a devastating conflict involving the Syrian military, rebel groups, extremist organisations and foreign powers.
The war lasted more than a decade and caused enormous loss of life and displacement before Assad’s government eventually collapsed in late 2024.
The Syrian court also sentenced Atif Najib, a former Assad-era security official, to death over crimes against humanity committed during the early stages of the uprising.
Najib, a cousin of Assad, previously served as head of political security in Daraa province, where the 2011 uprising began.
He was arrested in January 2025 and was convicted of several offences, including murder, the deliberate killing of children under the age of 15 and torture resulting in death.
The court classified the acts attributed to Najib as crimes against humanity and imposed what it described as the harshest available punishment.
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The proceedings represent a significant moment for Syria’s transitional authorities as they seek to hold members of the former government accountable for abuses committed during the civil war.
However, Assad’s absence means the sentence currently remains difficult to enforce. His presence in Russia has added an international dimension to the case, as Syrian authorities would need his return or cooperation from the country where he is believed to be residing.
The death sentence also comes as Syria attempts to establish a new judicial and political order following the collapse of Assad’s government.
For Syrians who suffered during the conflict, the trials of former regime officials could provide an avenue for accountability. For the transitional authorities, they also represent a test of their ability to address decades of alleged abuses while establishing the credibility of the country’s new institutions.
The prosecution of Assad and other former officials is likely to remain closely watched both inside Syria and internationally as the country confronts the legacy of its civil war.
