On the 11th, the Fourth Criminal Court of Damascus in Syria sentenced former Syrian President Assad to death in absentia. His cousin, former head of the Political Security Department in Daraa Province, Atif, was also sentenced to death.
The verdict hearing on that day mainly focused on Atif's case.
Aliyan, a judge of the Fourth Criminal Court of Damascus, stated that Atif, during the early stages of the Syrian crisis, led security operations targeting civilians in Daraa Province and participated in the interrogation of several detainees after protests erupted in the area. The court unanimously decided to sentence him to death.
Aliyan said that Assad, as the highest decision-maker, was involved in the incident and mobilized national apparatus for it, making him the principal perpetrator of all crimes committed against the Syrian people, even if he was not directly involved.
Assad and his family traveled to Russia by the end of 2024. On April 26 this year, the Syrian Interim Government launched the first public trial against core figures of the Assad regime.