Syria: Court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia in landmark trial

Syria: Court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia in landmark trial Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 09:46 Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder Off A Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on Tuesday on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder. Najib was tried in person, while Bashar and Maher were tried in absentia. The court convicted Assad of premeditated murder of multiple people, including children, as well as torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity.