Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia by Syrian court

A Syrian court has sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after convicting him of crimes against humanity, including killings, torture and arbitrary detention during the country’s nearly 14-year war.

Reuters reported that during Tuesday’s proceedings against former Syrian government officials, the judge found Assad guilty of premeditated and intentional murder of multiple people, including children, as well as torture, arbitrary arrest and crimes against humanity.

This marked the first conviction handed down against Assad by a Syrian court since he was ousted by a rebel offensive in December 2024. His removal ended decades of authoritarian rule by the Assad family and a devastating conflict that killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

Syrians gathered outside the courthouse in Damascus, cheering, applauding and waving Syrian flags after news of the ruling emerged.

Assad fled Damascus as rebel fighters approached the capital nearly two years ago. He and his family are currently in Russia, where they were granted asylum on humanitarian grounds.

Source: Reuters