Damascus, Aug. 24 (SANA) The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus has issued verdicts against 10 prominent figures of the ousted regime during August, including Bashar al-Assad, senior military and security officials, and figures who held political and religious positions.
The rulings included death sentences and life imprisonment, with some issued in person and others in absentia against fugitives. Those sentenced included Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, Atef Najib, Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Louay Ali al-Ali, Qusay Ibrahim Miehoub, Wafiq Saleh Nasser, Talal Fares al-Aissami, Wasim al-Assad and Ahmad Hassoun.
The cases addressed killings, torture, deprivation of liberty, kidnapping and incitement to murder, among other offenses. The court classified a number of the charges as crimes against humanity and war crimes, while the proceedings also covered other offenses attributed to individual defendants.
Bashar al-Assad
On August 11, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus issued an in-absentia death sentence against Bashar al-Assad after convicting him of premeditated and intentional killings involving multiple people, the intentional killing of children under 15, killings accompanied by torture and brutality, incitement to murder, torture resulting in death and deprivation of liberty. The court classified the offenses as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
According to the court’s findings, Bashar al-Assad held the position of president during the period covered by the case. The court determined that his role went beyond a failure to exercise oversight and described him as the “highest decision-maker” who formulated policies, deployed state institutions to implement them and protected those responsible from accountability.
The ruling provides that the in-absentia sentence may be annulled if he is arrested or surrenders. The court also ordered that his arrest warrant and international pursuit remain in effect in accordance with applicable procedures.
Maher al-Assad
The court also issued an in-absentia death sentence against Maher al-Assad on August 11. He was convicted, along with the other fugitive defendants, of premeditated and intentional killings involving multiple people, killings accompanied by torture and brutality, incitement to murder, torture resulting in death, deprivation of liberty and multiple kidnappings, which the court classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The court noted in its account of the case that Maher al-Assad commanded the Fourth Division, which the ousted regime relied on alongside security agencies in confronting the revolution. It also ordered that his arrest warrant remain in force, and to be pursued internationally and that the seizure of his movable and immovable assets be converted into an enforcement seizure.
Atef Najib
Atef Najib, the former head of the Political Security branch in Daraa, was sentenced to death in person on August 11. His trial began April 26, 2026.
The court’s findings addressed the arrest and torture of minors in Daraa, Najib’s participation in interrogating some of them, his membership in the province’s security committee and his role in confronting the revolution, as well as events linked to al-Omari Mosque and what the court described as the Political Security “gas station” massacre.
The court convicted him of premeditated and intentional killings involving multiple people, the intentional killing of children under 15, killings accompanied by torture and brutality, incitement to murder, torture resulting in death, deprivation of liberty and kidnapping, classifying these offenses as crimes against humanity. It also convicted him of offenses including acts intended to provoke civil war and sectarian conflict, theft of public funds, money laundering and abuse of authority. The penalties were merged and the most severe sentence, death, was imposed.
Other defendants sentenced on August 11
Fahd Jassem al-Freij, who served as chief of staff of the ousted regime’s army before becoming defense minister, was sentenced to death in absentia on August 11. The court convicted him of premeditated and intentional killings involving multiple people, killings accompanied by torture and brutality, incitement to murder, torture resulting in death, deprivation of liberty and multiple kidnappings, classifying the offenses as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Louay Ali al-Ali, Qusay Ibrahim Miehoub, Wafiq Saleh Nasser and Talal Fares al-Aissami were also sentenced to death in absentia in the same ruling. The court convicted them of killings, torture resulting in death, deprivation of liberty, kidnapping and incitement to murder, among other charges classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The court additionally convicted al-Ali, Miehoub, Nasser and al-Aissami of the intentional killing of children under 15 and acts intended to provoke sectarian tensions and civil conflict. It imposed life imprisonment for those offenses before merging the penalties and enforcing the most severe sentence, death.
Wasim al-Assad
On August 18, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus sentenced Wassim al-Assad to death and ordered the seizure of his movable and immovable assets after convicting him of crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Syrian people. The verdict was issued during the sixth session of his trial, which began June 24.
According to the court, evidence presented during the proceedings established the involvement of an armed group affiliated with the defendant in an attack on a commercial establishment in Jaramana, the theft of its contents and the kidnapping of its owner because of his opposition to the former regime. The court also addressed the group’s involvement in kidnapping and killing Syrian citizens in several areas.
The charges included forming and managing irregular armed groups at the direction of Brig. Gen. Ghiyath Dalla, a commander in the Fourth Division, participation in military operations targeting civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta, particularly al-Malihah, as well as drug trafficking and intentional killing.
Ahmad Hassoun
On August 24, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus sentenced Ahmad Hassoun, Grand Mufti of the ousted regime, to life imprisonment and ordered the seizure of his movable and immovable assets after convicting him of crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Syrian people.
The court convicted Hassoun of acts intended to provoke civil war and sectarian conflict, incitement to intentional killing, direct participation in intentional killing, abuse of office and provoking sectarian and racial tensions. It merged the custodial penalties and imposed the most severe sentence, life imprisonment.
His trial began June 25. The charges included exploiting his position as Grand Mufti, maintaining relations with security and military officials and militia leaders, urging members of the ousted regime’s army to support the regime against its opponents, making statements that included incitement against civilians and refugees, and supporting figures and forces involved in the war in Syria.
Judicial proceedings
The verdicts form part of an ongoing judicial process addressing cases from the period of the ousted regime, with the roles, responsibilities and alleged acts varying among defendants. The August 11 ruling also provided for the continued pursuit of officials, contributors and accomplices who were not included in the case, with separate cases to be opened whenever sufficient evidence becomes available.
The court preserved the rights of victims, their families and families of missing persons and ordered convicted defendants to compensate civil claimants whose cases were accepted, as part of redress within the transitional justice process.
The August 11 ruling also included defendant Mohammad Ayman Ayoush, who held security and military positions in the ousted regime’s army in Daraa province at the beginning of the Syrian revolution in 2011 and was linked to violations against civilians in the province. The court dropped the public prosecution against him after establishing that he had died.
The verdicts issued so far therefore do not constitute a final list of ousted regime officials who may face accountability. According to the court’s rulings, they form part of a broader process to pursue officials, contributors and accomplices whenever the required legal evidence becomes available.
H.H
