A SYRIAN court sentenced ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother to death in absentia today for crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Syria’s 14-year conflict, which left about half a million people dead.

The sentences issued by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus are the first against Mr Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power ended 20 months ago.

“Bashar al-Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan during a court session broadcast live on state television.

Also sentenced to death in the same case was Mr Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, who was convicted of overseeing a crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war.

Amid tight security, Mr Najib stood inside a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read the sentence. 

Mr Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia after the government’s fall in December 2024 and received political asylum. 

Mr Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general who was head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa province, is one of the highest-ranking officials to be put on trial.