Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia

A Syrian court sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the country’s 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead.

A Syrian court sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the country’s 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead.

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.

“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.

Also sentenced to death in the same case was Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, who was convicted of overseeing a 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. A crowd of people gathered outside the courthouse in central Damascus to hear the verdict.