Bashar al-Assad and Atef Najib sentenced to death in Syria

newsAug 11, 202629931

The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus on Tuesday sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad and their cousin Atef Najib to death after finding them guilty of crimes committed during Syria’s nearly 14-year war. The court convicted Bashar al-Assad, toppled in December 2024 and now living in exile in Russia, of premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity and sentenced him in absentia. Maher al-Assad was also sentenced in absentia for premeditated murder and torture. Atef Najib, the former head of political security in Deraa who was arrested in January last year, stood inside a cage in the courtroom and was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity including murder, the intentional killing of children under 15 and torture leading to death. Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan said witness testimony established Bashar al-Assad’s role as the highest decision-maker and that state institutions were used to facilitate the crimes. The ruling is the first under Syria’s transitional authorities trying former government figures and the court also sentenced several other former military and security officials, including Fahd al-Freij and Louay al-Ali, in absentia. Al Jazeera correspondents said the verdict will set a legal precedent; Damascus has demanded Russia extradite Bashar al-Assad but Moscow, which has granted him asylum, has so far refused and is unlikely to change course without a major political breakthrough.

Marie 🇨🇦

@pawbaby2.bsky.social

1/2 Bashar al-Assad has now been convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. A reminder: power doesn’t guarantee permanent immunity. #USDemocracy #RisingBlue apple.news/A_6hQDz2NQVu...

29544d ago

Marie 🇨🇦34

2/2 Hopefully one day Trump, Hegseth and anyone else credibly accused of war crimes will face a court, the evidence, and real accountability.

Keith Michon9

Might as well throw in Trump, Putin and Netanyahu for good Measure...

MadGreek 🧿6

He can never leave Russia. He can't even leave Moscow!

Mr serious 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🐸5

He has also been sentenced to death in absentia. BBC News - Ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🖌 Myandra sez: 🖍 Impeach the MF'er soon. We're waiting.3

Yes! Now do some more! Bibi next!

QueenAntifa2

Trump needs to be next, with Bibi.

Quoting this

@SuzanaD37

This will be the kunt admin in 2 yrs 🤞🤞

Jim Swanson3

Thanks to Marie for posting this.

Pierce

@pierceah66.bsky.social

Yeah genociding half a million people & gassing civillians with chemical weapons should lead to trials like this. apnews.com/article/syri...

12044d ago

Quoting this

Joseph In THEE OC 🇺🇸🇲🇽🇮🇱🏳️‍🌈17

Yeah where was the outcry from the left when he murdered half a million people with help from the Russians?

David Darmofal3

It's telling how silent the White Leftist trust fund babies on the Ivy League campuses have always been about Assad's genocide. Why is that?

Olga Nesterova

@onestpress.onestnetwork.com

Damascus court on Tuesday sentenced nine former regime officials, including Bashar Al Assad, his brother Maher and security official Atef Najib, to death on charges of murder and torture.

9745d ago

Fared Al Mahlool | فريد المحلول

@faredalmahlool.bsky.social

DAMASCUS, SYRIA — August 11, 2026 The sentencing hearing has begun in the trial of Atef Najib, one of the most prominent figures of the former Assad regime. Damascus Criminal Court No. 4 issues a death sentence against Atef Najib. 🧵

8245d ago

Quoting this

Grudgie the Whale13

Sad day for Aaron Mate

Yashar Ali 🐘

@yasharali.bsky.social

2. Their cousin, Atef Najib, the former security chief, was in the courtroom when he received the same sentence. The convictions include crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the Assad regime’s rule.

10945d ago

Steve Peers

@stevepeers.bsky.social

Assad sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes, crimes against humanity www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

4545d ago

Blaise Ulysse Bernard Collins

@wittywebhandle.bsky.social

"His crimes include murder, “the intentional killing of children under 15” and “torture leading to death”, according to the court." Oh man... If you think that's bad, do I have some news about Ahmed al-Sharaa, the current President...

3045d ago

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

Syria sentences absent former leader Bashar al-Assad to death over killings and torture

2245d ago

Mai El-Sadany

@maitelsadany.bsky.social

If you're just waking up, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus has sentenced Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher, and his cousin Atef Najib, complicit in the torture of the Daraa schoolchildren and the brutal regime response that followed, to death. www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/...

1645d ago

AFP News Agency

@en.afp.com

🇸🇾 A Syrian court has sentenced former ruler Bashar al-Assad to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of atrocities committed during the country's nearly 14-year civil war. ➡️ u.afp.com/SHPT

2045d ago

gjabberbox.bsky.social

@gjabberbox.bsky.social

“A Syrian court has sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, after convicting him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war.” www.bbc.com/news/article...

1744d ago

The New Arab

@thenewarab.bsky.social

A Syrian court has sentenced ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad to death in absentia, while former Assad-era security official Atef Najib was also sentenced to death after being tried in person.

845d ago

Megaphone News

@megaphone.news

On Tuesday, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus sentenced Atef Najib, Bashar al-Assad's cousin, to death after finding him guilty of torture, murder, and incitement to murder during his tenure as head of the Political Security branch in Daraa.

545d ago

Quoting this

RN Mahli2

I’m still on the fence about the current administration in Syria, but this is how you set the terms when taking over from a criminal regime; you prosecute the leaders. Something the West doesn’t have the stomach to do: a sign of how deep the corruption goes.

Rima I Anabtawi

@rimaanabtawi.bsky.social

“Also sentenced to death in the same case was Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib for leading the crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war. Amid tight security, Najib stood inside a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read the sentence.”

345d ago

Mike Walker

@newnarrative.bsky.social

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia for crimes during the country's 14-year deadly conflict www.cnn.com/2026/08/11/m...

345d ago

3 sources

aljazeera.comBashar al-Assad, Atef Najib sentenced to death in landmark Syria trial ms.nowFormer Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia news.google.comBashar al-Assad, Atef Najib sentenced to death in landmark Syria trial - Al Jazeera

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Bashar al-Assad and Atef Najib sentenced to death in Syria

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