Former Syria President Bashar Al-Assad Sentenced to Death

A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death for war crimes, according to Reuters. The verdict marks the first time Assad has been convicted by a Syrian court since he was removed from power in December 2024. Assad, currently residing in Russia, is accused of war crimes including killings, torture, and arbitrary detention during his 24-year rule.

The court also sentenced Assad's brother Maher to death, as well as former security official Atef Najib, who appeared in court in person. Najib was arrested in 2025 and previously connected to security operations in Deraa, where protests against Assad's government began in 2011. The court cited multiple offenses in its sentencing, including intentional killings of all ages, torture, arbitrary arrests, and crimes against humanity.

The decision has sparked celebrations in Damascus and Deraa. The ruling raises questions about the implications of imposing death sentences in absentia for Assad's potential return to Syria.