A Syrian court handed down a death sentence in absentia to former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his younger brother for their involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes during the 14-year conflict in Syria that resulted in approximately half a million deaths.

The sentencing took place at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus and marks the first legal action against Assad or his close associates since their decades-long rule ended two years ago. Judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan, in a televised court session, stated that Assad had utilized state institutions to carry out war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Alongside Assad, Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib was also sentenced to death for his role in overseeing a crackdown in Daraa province that sparked the uprising and subsequent civil war. Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general, had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2011 and is one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial.

Najib, who stood trial in a prisoner’s uniform within a secured cage as the verdict was read, had been in charge of the political security branch in Daraa province during the initial stages of the conflict. Under his command, a group of teenagers was detained and subjected to torture for anti-government activities, leading to widespread protests against Assad’s regime.

The sentencing of Najib was met with mixed emotions from survivors of his brutal crackdown, who expressed a sense of closure and justice. However, human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, raised concerns about the use of the death penalty and emphasized the importance of fair trial standards and accountability in addressing past atrocities.

Assad and his brother Maher sought refuge in Russia following the regime’s downfall in December 2024 and were granted political asylum. Efforts are underway by Syria’s new leadership to extradite the Assads from Russia to face justice for their alleged crimes.