Syrian court sentences former president's cousin Waseem Al Assad to death

A Syrian court has sentenced Waseem Al Assad, cousin of former President Bashar Al Assad, to death for crimes committed during the nation's prolonged conflict. The Fourth District Criminal Court in Damascus found him guilty of premeditated murder and torture. Judge Fakhr Al Aryan announced the death sentence during the hearing. The court also ordered the seizure of the convicted man's assets for the state treasury.

Waseem Al Assad was apprehended by security forces in June, described by the Interior Ministry as a leader of the Baath Brigades militia and a prominent narcotics dealer and criminal from the previous regime. Recently, Bashar Al Assad, the ex-leader, was sentenced to death in absentia for mass murder and other crimes related to the suppression of the 2011 uprising.

Additionally, Bashar's brother Maher and security official Atif Najib, along with six other former regime officials, were also sentenced to death for murder and torture charges. In December, Syrian authorities issued an arrest warrant against Bashar Al Assad on murder and torture charges, marking the first legal action against the former ruler, who fled to Russia after a 11-day offensive by insurgents led by now-President Ahmad Al Shara ended Assad's 24-year rule.