Syrian court sentences ex-president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia

Published Aug 11, 09:22 AM UTC

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A Syrian court has sentenced former ruler Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity, marking the first verdict against him since his overthrow by Islamist fighters in December 2024. The court also sentenced former senior security official Atef Najib, a cousin of Assad, to death for crimes including intentional killing of children and torture resulting in death. Najib was arrested in January 2025. The trial, opened in April, is part of the new Syrian leadership's effort to hold former officials accountable. Assad fled to Moscow after being ousted. The verdict has no immediate consequences for him. The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, killed over half a million people.

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Nachrichten - WELTWestern

Original headline: Syriens Ex-Diktator Baschar al-Assad zum Tode verurteilt

Original language: DE

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Syrian Court Sentences Ex-President Bashar al-Assad to Death in Absentia

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Bashar al-Assad Syria