Picture Credit: SANA/AP
A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar Al-Assad and several former officials to death, local media reported on Tuesday.
The court found them guilty of illegally detaining opponents, premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity. It said Assad held the country’s highest office but failed to uphold its responsibilities and violated the law.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the court also sentenced Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin and former head of political security in Daraa, to death.
Assad was not present in court and is currently living in exile in Russia.
The court handed death sentences to fugitives Louai Ali al-Ali, Maher Hafez al-Assad, Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Mohammad Ayman Ayoush, Qusay Ibrahim Mahyoub, Wafiq Saleh Nasser and Talal Fares al-Ayssami.
Fall of Assad Government
Assad’s government fell on December 8, 2024, following an offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and affiliated militant groups.
After the fall of his government, Assad and his family left Syria for Moscow.
After leaving Damascus in December 2024, Assad issued a statement through the Syrian Presidency’s Telegram account, describing the circumstances surrounding his departure. He said he had not planned to leave Syria and remained in Damascus until the morning of December 8 while carrying out his responsibilities.
After opposition forces entered Damascus, Assad said he contacted Russian allies about moving to Latakia to continue military operations from there.
According to his statement, Assad reached Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base and learned that all remaining Syrian army positions had fallen and ground forces had withdrawn from the front lines.
As the situation deteriorated and drones began targeting the Russian base, Moscow arranged his departure on the evening of December 8, he said.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Assad maintained that seeking asylum or abandoning his post had never been an option and that continuing the fight was his only course.
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