Syrian Court Sentences Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad and Former Officials to Death

A Syrian criminal court in Damascus has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad to death, along with several senior officials from the former Syrian government.

The court convicted Bashar al-Assad in absentia on charges including the intentional killing of multiple people. Both Bashar and Maher al-Assad are currently reported to be residing in Russia.

The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus also issued death sentences against Atef Najib, Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Wafiq Nasser and Louay al-Ali.

Najib, the former head of Political Security in Daraa, was convicted on charges including intentional killing and torture.

The rulings represent a major development in Syria’s judicial proceedings against senior figures from the former government. Because several defendants were tried in absentia, enforcement of their sentences would depend on their being taken into Syrian custody.