The Criminal Court in Damascus has sentenced former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and former head of provincial political security in Daraa, Atef Najib, to death in absentia. The verdict found both men guilty of crimes committed during the Syrian civil war.
The court convicted Assad of intentional murder, while Najib was found guilty of both intentional murder and torture. The crimes, which were committed by Assad’s government in the Daraa province in 2011, have been classified as crimes against humanity.
These judgments represent a significant step forward in the legal accountability for the events of the Syrian civil war. However, Assad is unlikely to face execution, as he is currently in exile in Russia.
