What Happened
A criminal court in Damascus has issued death sentences for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his brother, Maher al-Assad, in absentia. The rulings relate to killings connected to the violent security crackdown in Daraa in 2011. Atef Najib, a former senior security official in Daraa, was also sentenced to death during the trial.
Najib appeared before the court wearing a prisoner’s uniform, unlike the Assad brothers who were not present. The legal action concerns events from 2011 when protests in Daraa faced a forceful response from security forces. Those incidents became a primary catalyst for the wider Syrian uprising and the subsequent civil war.
The court found Bashar al-Assad and Maher al-Assad guilty of intentionally killing multiple people. The case also included allegations regarding torture, detention and other abuses against civilians during that period. Atef Najib held a senior position in Daraa when the unrest began.
Bashar al-Assad and Maher al-Assad did not attend the courtroom proceedings. Because they were outside Syrian custody, the court delivered its verdicts without them being present. This absence means the death sentences cannot be immediately executed while the two men remain abroad or out of reach.
The Timeline
The sentences at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus are the first against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power came to an end 20 months ago. He was sentenced on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 to death in absentia by a Syrian court.
The proceedings marked a significant development involving high-ranking figures from Syria’s previous leadership. Under tight security, Najib stood inside a cage as the judge read the sentence. The trial session took place at the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria.
Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia after the government’s fall in December 2024 and received political asylum. This culminated in a Tuesday, 11 August 2026 decision from the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, giving the highest penalty to Assad, his brother, and his maternal cousin.
Najib was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in April 2011, before he was later detained. The new agreement regarding military cooperation between Russia and Syria signed on Sunday, 9 August 2026, is separate from these legal proceedings but occurred in the same week.
Who Said What
“Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan during a court session that was aired live on state TV. Al-Aryan said Najib can appeal.
“Today is the day of justice for all the wounded, martyrs, detainees and Syrians who were forced to leave their country,” said attorney Adnan al-Masalmeh who represented families of Najib’s victims. Fifteen years later, “there is happiness that Atef Najib was sentenced to death,” he said.
“Today we reached a point where the blood was not wasted,” said Mouawiya Sayasneh, about those who died in the crackdown. Another man, Nayef Abazeid, who was detained at the age of 13 in 2011, expressed his satisfaction with the sentence.
Zayadin added that Najib has the right to appeal, and that process “needs to meet fair trial standards too.” Real accountability for Assad-era crimes depends on Syria building a justice system that lasts, she said. It’s cruel and irreversible, especially when a fair trial isn’t guaranteed.
Why This Matters
For years, it was considered unlikely that senior figures from the Assad government would face prosecution inside Syria. This judgment represents a major shift in that dynamic. It indicates that Syrian courts are now attempting to pursue former political and security leaders over alleged crimes committed during the early stages of the uprising.
The conflict left about half a million people dead. For victims and families affected by the conflict, the ruling could be seen as an important step toward accountability. However, questions remain over whether Bashar or Maher al-Assad will ever actually be brought back to Syria to face execution.
The primary issue now is custody. A death sentence delivered in absentia does not mean the sentence will be enforced immediately. Syrian authorities would first need to secure the return or arrest of the Assad brothers. That process could involve difficult diplomatic and legal questions depending on where they are located and whether another country is willing to cooperate.
Najib, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in April 2011, was later detained and is one of the highest-ranking security officials to be put on trial. His conduct during the initial crackdown made him one of the most prominent former security officials linked to events that helped ignite the conflict.
What Happens Next
For now, the ruling stands as a conviction delivered by a Damascus court against the former president and his brother. The judgment sends a powerful message that a former Syrian president and his brother have been convicted and sentenced to death by a Damascus court.
The sentences stand pending the location and status of the defendants. Authorities have confirmed the sentences stand pending the location and status of the defendants. If either man is eventually detained or returned to Syria, further legal steps could follow.
Real accountability for Assad-era crimes depends on Syria building a justice system that lasts. The court’s decision highlights the ongoing legal complexities surrounding the Syrian conflict.