Geopolitics · Wednesday, 12 August 2026
A Syrian court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia
The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus on Tuesday found the deposed president guilty of premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity. The session was carried live on state television and the verdict is the first against Assad or his inner circle since the family's five decades in power ended. His brother Maher al-Assad and his cousin Atef Najib were sentenced to death in the same case. Both brothers are in Russia.