Syrian court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for crimes against humanity

A court in Damascus on Tuesday sentenced ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia, after finding them guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Syrian conflict.

A judicial milestone

The ruling marks a milestone in the proceedings pushed forward by the transitional authorities against the former regime’s top officials. Al-Assad and his brother were tried for their responsibility in the repression that left hundreds of thousands of victims throughout the civil war.

Because the sentence was handed down in absentia, its practical enforcement depends on the eventual capture or extradition of the convicted men, who remain outside the country since the regime fell.

The Syrian transition

Transitional justice is one of the pillars of the political process under way in Syria. Human rights organizations have called for these proceedings to meet international standards and to go beyond symbolic figures, reaching every level of the chain of command responsible for atrocities.

Why it matters

The sentence carries considerable symbolic and legal weight: it sends the message that those responsible for mass crimes can be brought to justice, and sets a precedent for other pending cases. The challenge for Syria’s justice system will be proving it can be independent and thorough — a key requirement for reconciliation and for international support for rebuilding the country.