Syria court sentences Bashar al-Assad, brother Maher to death

DAMASCUS: A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death for war crimes, premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity. The court said Assad had ordered the violent suppression of protests. His brother, Maher al-Assad, was also sentenced to death.

The sentences were issued in absentia, as both Bashar and Maher al-Assad are currently outside Syria. Bashar al-Assad fled Syria in December 2024 after rebel forces seized control of the country, bringing his 24-year rule to an end. He is currently living in Russia with his family after being granted asylum. Russia has so far refused to extradite him to Syria.