Syria sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity
A Syrian court has sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad and his brother to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ruling also sentenced cousin Atef Najib, who is currently in custody, for his role in the violent crackdown that sparked the Syrian civil war.
Why it matters
This legal action represents a significant, albeit largely symbolic, attempt at accountability for the atrocities committed during the 14-year Syrian conflict.
A Syrian court sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the country's 14-year war that left about half a million people dead and millions displaced or seeking refuge abroad.The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus on Tuesday found al-Assad guilty of ordering the murder of civilians including children, as well as torture and unlawful detention.The judge said witnesses had confirmed al-Assad was the ultimate authority behind the crimes and that he had used the instruments of the Syrian state to carry them out.Also sentenced to death in the same case were al-Assad's younger brother Maher — also in absentia — and maternal cousin Atef Najib, who attended the trial.Najib was found guilty of leading the crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war.Amid tight security, Najib stood in a cage wearing a…
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