Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia
A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar Assad and his brother to death in absentia for war crimes committed during the country's civil war. The verdict is largely symbolic as the pair currently reside in Russia.
Why it matters
It marks a significant, albeit symbolic, legal milestone in the aftermath of the Syrian civil war and the collapse of the Assad regime.
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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad and his brother in absentia for murder, torture and crimes against humanity committed before and during the country’s 14-year civil war that left about half a million people dead.
The verdicts by a court in Damascus are the first against Assad or any members of his inner circle since his family’s five decades in power came to an end 20 months ago. They are mostly symbolic, however, because Assad and his brother Maher had fled to Russia , where they received asylum after the Syrian government’s stunning collapse in December 2024.
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