Damascus, May 10 (SANA) The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus held its second session on Sunday, in the landmark trial of Atef Najib, a prominent figure of the ousted regime and Bashar al-Assad’s cousin. The session was attended by families of victims from Daraa, representatives of the National Authority for Transitional Justice, and international legal and human rights observers.
In absentia rulings for top regime leaders
The Presiding Judge opened the session by reading the names of high-profile fugitives who failed to appear despite legal notification. Under Article 322 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the court officially confirmed the absentia status of defendants Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, Fahd al-Freij, Louay al-Ali, Wafiq Nasser, and others, stripped them of their civil rights, and ordered the seizure of all their assets, placing them under government administration.
The charges: From the children of Daraa to crimes against humanity
The session focused on the interrogation of Atef Najib, who served as the head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa during the revolution. The prosecution presented a chilling account of “systematic” crimes, including:
The Spark of the revolution: The February 2011 arrest and torture of school children for political graffiti. The prosecution detailed the use of electric shocks and the pulling of fingernails, which led to several deaths.
The Omari Mosque massacre: Najib is accused of usage of excessive force and the targeting of peaceful protesters and mourners with gun shots and blocking ambulances from reaching the wounded.
Systemic torture: Command responsibility for widespread summary executions and torture unto death within detention centers, unlawful deprivation of liberty, and incitement to murder.
Legal landmark for transitional justice
The court affirmed that the acts attributed to the defendants constitute War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. Under the 2025 Constitutional Declaration and international treaties, Judge al-Aryan emphasized that these crimes are not subject to any statute of limitations or amnesty.
“Justice for Syria begins where the revolution began—in Daraa,” stated Public Prosecutor Omar al-Radi during his statement. He argued that the organized hierarchy of the ousted regime’s security apparatus makes the defendants liable under both Syrian criminal law and international humanitarian law.
Privacy and protection
At the close of the session, the court ordered a halt to live broadcasting for the proceedings to protect the identities of protected witnesses and sensitive documents, while maintaining the public nature of the trial for the prosecution, defense, and authorized monitors.
Najib was placed under U.S. and EU sanctions in 2011 for involvement in violations against civilians, and was arrested in Latakia in January 2025.
H.H
