{
  "id": 568457,
  "title": "Who is Atef Najib, the ex-Syrian security official sentenced to death with Bashar al-Assad?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/who-is-atef-najib-the-ex-syrian-security-official-sentenced-to-death",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T13:10:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/world/who-is-atef-najib-the-ex-syrian-security-official-sentenced-to-death-with-bashar-alassad-11786452721530.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Atef Najib, a cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been sentenced to death by a Damascus court for his role in the security crackdown that sparked Syria's 2011 uprising. Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general, was present in court alongside Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad, who were tried in absentia. Unlike his relatives, Najib was detained by Syrian security forces in early 2025 and is one of the highest-ranking former Assad-era officials to face trial. Najib headed the Political Security Branch in Daraa, a city in southern Syria, during the early stages of the uprising. The city became a focal point of protests after teenagers were arrested and allegedly tortured for writing anti-government graffiti on a school wall. Najib was convicted of premeditated murder and torture, with prosecutors linking his actions to the broader crimes committed during the conflict. The judge, Fakhareddine al-Aryan, announced the death sentence during a court session broadcast on state television, and Najib can appeal the verdict.",
  "summary": "Najib is a former Syrian army brigadier general who headed the Political Security Branch in Daraa, in southern Syria, in 2011. He is also a maternal cousin of Bashar al-Assad.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Syria sentences absent al-Assad to death over killings, torture",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/syria-sentences-absent-al-assad-to-death-over-killings-torture",
        "published": "2026-08-11T10:20:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Syria sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over atrocities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/syria-sentences-bashar-al-assad-to-death-in-absentia-over-atrocities-556084",
        "published": "2026-08-11T10:22:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Syria sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over atrocities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/syria-sentences-bashar-al-assad-to-death-in-absentia-over-atrocities",
        "published": "2026-08-11T10:30:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Syrian court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death for murder, torture, crimes against humanity",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/syrian-court-sentences-bashar-al-assad-to-death-for-murder-torture",
        "published": "2026-08-11T10:46:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Post",
        "title": "Syria Sentences Bashar al-Assad to Death in Absentia Over Atrocities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/syria-sentences-bashar-al-assad-to-death-in-absentia-over-atrocities-558336",
        "published": "2026-08-11T10:50:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ProPakistani",
        "title": "Former Syria President Bashar Al-Assad Sentenced to Death",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/former-syria-president-bashar-al-assad-sentenced-to-death",
        "published": "2026-08-11T11:29:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Syria's Ex-President Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death in Absentia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/syrias-ex-president-bashar-al-assad-sentenced-to-death-in-absentia",
        "published": "2026-08-11T12:16:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Syrian court sentences ex-president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for war crimes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/syrian-court-sentences-ex-president-bashar-al-assad-to-death-in",
        "published": "2026-08-11T14:19:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Syria sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over atrocities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/syria-sentences-bashar-al-assad-to-death-in-absentia-over-atrocities-577595",
        "published": "2026-08-11T15:46:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}