Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad and his brother in absentia for murder, torture and crimes a
A Syrian court sentenced former President Bashar Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia on Tuesday for murder, torture, and crimes against humanity committed during the country's 14-year civil war. The verdicts, the first against Assad or his inner circle since the end of his family's five-decade rule, are mostly symbolic due to their asylum in Russia.
Six other former officials were also sentenced to death in absentia, with only Atef Najib, Assad's maternal cousin, being held in custody. Najib oversaw a crackdown on dissent that triggered the uprising leading to the civil war. The court found Assad and others guilty of premeditated murder, including against children, and other brutal acts.
While the verdicts are popular among many Syrians, human rights groups have expressed concerns over the alleged rushed and potentially unfair trials, questioning the justice system's flaws.
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