Syria Sentences Assad-Era Grand Mufti to Life in Prison

A Syrian court sentenced Ahmad Hassoun, the former grand mufti under late President Bashar Assad, to life in prison on Monday. The religious leader, 77, vocally supported Assad's policies and was found guilty of inciting sectarian unrest and justifying murder. Judge Fakhreddine al-Aryan stated that Assad's religious establishment had justified the use of barrel bombs targeting civilians, which violated international humanitarian law.

Hassoun is the tenth Assad-era figure to receive a sentence under Syria's new authorities. Earlier this month, Assad and his brother Maher were sentenced to death in absentia for atrocities committed during the civil war. Over half a million people were killed and millions displaced during the conflict that began in 2011 following a crackdown on anti-government protesters and ended in December 2024 with Assad's ouster by Islamist-led militants.

Human rights groups have expressed concerns about the speed of the trials and the fairness of the proceedings. Balkees Jarrah, Middle East and North Africa director for Human Rights Watch, emphasized that advancing justice requires building a competent, impartial, and independent justice system.