Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death absentia

A Syrian court sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother Maher al-Assad to death in absentia on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Syria's nearly 14-year civil war, which killed approximately half a million people. The sentences were handed down by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus and represent the first convictions against Assad or members of his inner circle since the fall of his family's five-decade rule. Assad currently lives in exile in Russia, which has granted him asylum and has so far refused extradition requests.