Syria court sentences Assad-era grand mufti to life in prison
A Syrian court has sentenced former grand mufti Ahmed Hassoun to life in prison for his role in providing religious justification for regime violence during the civil war. This follows the recent death sentence handed down to ousted president Bashar al-Assad in absentia.
Why it matters
It marks a significant step in the legal reckoning of the Assad-era religious and political establishment following the regime's collapse.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, Ahmed Hassoun, 77, was Syria's grand mufti between 2005 and 2021
A court in Syria has sentenced the country's former top Muslim cleric to life in prison after convicting him of crimes including inciting civil war and complicity in intentional killing.
Ahmed Hassoun, 77, was grand mufti between 2005 and 2021, during the rule of ousted president Bashar al-Assad.
The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus found the official religious establishment that he led was used to "provide cover" for regime military and security operations during the 13-year war, including the dropping of barrel bombs, state news agency Sana reported.
Hassoun, who denied the charges, is the 10th Assad-era figure to be sentenced under Syria's transitional authorities.
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