Assad-era’s grand mufti sentenced to life in prison by court in Damascus
Former Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun has been sentenced to life in prison for inciting violence and justifying the use of barrel bombs during the Assad regime. This trial is part of a broader effort to prosecute former officials following the regime's collapse.
Why it matters
The sentencing marks a significant step in the post-conflict accountability process in Syria.
A former Islamic religious leader was sentenced to life in prison on Monday (August 24, 2026) in the latest Syrian court trial of officials affiliated with the rule of ex-President Bashar Assad.
Former grand mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, an Assad loyalist who was vocally in support of the government's policies, was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder. He held the position of mufti from 2005 to 2021, when the position was abolished.
Judge Fakhreddine al-Aryan, head of the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, said the official religious establishment under Assad's rule had “justified the use of barrel bombs that targeted civilian areas and caused widespread destruction, which constitutes a violation of the rules of international humanitarian law.”
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