Syrian Court sentences Bashar al‑Assad to death in absentia

Bashar al‑Assad pictured in 2023 speaking into a microphone and holding some papers. He is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and tie.
Bashar al‑Assad, former longtime Syrian president, in 2023.

A Syrian court announced Tuesday that former president Bashar al‑Assad, who was ousted by an 11‑day campaign led by Ahmed al‑Sharaa, has been sentenced to death in absentia. The court concluded that he committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country’s civil war.

Atef Najib – a cousin of al‑Assad and former head of political security in Deraa – also received a death sentence in the same case. Najib sat inside a cage in the courtroom as the judge read the verdict.

Deraa was the flashpoint of the uprising that sparked nationwide protests in March 2011, culminating in a brutal crackdown that ignited the conflict. The new Syrian leadership has begun prosecuting former regime officials this year, but most senior figures, including Assad himself, remain in Moscow.

It remains uncertain whether Assad can be extradited from Russia. The extradition pursuit highlights the challenges the interim government faces in holding former elites accountable. Despite these hurdles, the court’s decision marks a significant, symbolic step for victims of the war seeking justice in a post‑Assad Syria.