Syrian Court Sentences Bashar al Assad to Death in Absentia
Bashar al Assad sentenced to death in absentia by Syrian court for war crimes
Syria's Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus has sentenced former president Bashar al Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Judge Fakhareddine al Aryan announced the ruling on Tuesday, stating that Assad "used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity" during his rule from 2011 until his government's collapse. The sentence comes after Assad fled Damascus in December 2024 following a rapid military offensive by anti-regime forces that toppled his government. He subsequently sought refuge in Moscow. The court session was broadcast live on Syrian state television, marking a significant legal development in the country's transitional period following decades of civil conflict.
