Syria's Bashar al-Assad and why was he sentenced to death

A Syrian court has handed former president Bashar al-Assad a death sentence in absentia, the first conviction against the leader ousted in 2024 after more than two decades in power. But who is Assad, what crimes was he convicted of, and how are Syrians reacting to the landmark ruling?

It was the first Syrian conviction against former leader, who was ousted in a rebel offensive in December 2024

DAMASCUS, Syria (AFP) -- A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced former ruler Bashar Assad to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of atrocities committed during the country's nearly 14-year civil war. It is the first such ruling under Syria's transitional leaders, who ousted Assad in December 2024, vowing to pr

Al-Assad has been sentenced over his actions during Syria's nearly 14-year civil war — but he's unlikely to face execution.

The ruling is the first of its kind under Syria's transitional leaders, who ousted Assad in 2024, vowing to provide justice and accountability for crimes committed under his rule.

In our news wrap Tuesday, ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes during the country's brutal civil war, authorities say at least six people were killed when Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired ballistic missiles on a vessel and the Democratic Republic of the Congo say

A Syrian court in the country’s capital city of Damascus laid down a historic ruling on Aug. 11 — convicting the country’s former dictator President Bashar al-Assad with crimes against humanity — and sentencing him to death. Assad, who led the country during Syria’s nearly 14-year revolutionary conflict, abandoned his

Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? Sign up for the Morning Mail here, and finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter Good morning. Despite pledging to fight Pauline Hanson’s insurgent rightwing movement, the Coalition is now backing One Nation’s policy of barring overseas Australians with terror li

The Fourth Criminal Court in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Tuesday sentenced former dictator Bashar Assad to death in absentia for “war crimes and crimes against humanity,” perpetrated during the brutal 14-year civil war he waged to stay in power, with copious assistance from his patrons in Iran and Russia.

Syria's former dictator Bashar al-Assad has been sentenced to death by a Syrian court.

Syria's new government has repeatedly asked Russia to release the Assads to them so they can face prosecution.

A Syrian court on Tuesday (August 11) sentenced former ruler Bashar al-Assad to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of atrocities committed during the country's nearly 14-year civil war.

A Syrian court has sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, after convicting him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war.

A Syrian court has sentenced former ruler Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for atrocities committed during the country’s civil war.

Assad, who has been living in exile in Russia since his 2024 ouster, was sentenced for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the country's years-long civil war.

A Damascus court sentenced exiled former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and other officials to death on murder, torture, false imprisonment charges.

Former Syria dictator Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death over 'war atrocities'  GB News

Ex-Syrian President Bashar Assad Sentenced To Death In Absentia For War Crimes  HuffPost

It is the first such ruling under Syria's transitional leaders who ousted Assad in December 2024, vowing to provide justice and accountability for crimes committed under his rule.

A Syrian court sentenced ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria's 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead.

Bashar Al-Assad, who fled to Russia after he was deposed in 2024, was sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes committed during Syria’s bloody civil war.

Syria Sentences Absent Bashar al-Assad, Former Regime Officials to Death  Haaretz

The 60-year-old, who was president of Syria for 24 years until 2024 before fleeing to Moscow, was found guilty of crimes including killings, torture, and arbitrary arrest.

Syria sentences absent Bashar al-Assad to death over killings and torture  Reuters

Syria has sentenced former ruler Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war. His brother Maher and five other former officials were also sentenced to death in a landmark ruling by transitional authorities.

A Syrian court has sentenced former leader Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher to death after convicting them in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country’s devastating civil war.

Bashar al-Assad was sentenced to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of atrocities committed during Syria's nearly 14-year civil war.

Bashar al-Assad was sentenced to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of atrocities committed during Syria's nearly 14-year civil war.

DAMASCUS: A Syrian court sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death on Tuesday (Aug 11) after a trial in absentia, convicting him of crimes including killings, torture and arbitrary arrest during the country's nearly 14-year war.It was the first conviction against Assad, who was ousted in a rebel offensive in Dec

A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced former ruler Bashar al-Assad to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of atrocities committed during the country's nearly 14-year civil war. It is the first such ruling under Syria's transitional leaders who ousted Assad in December 2024, vowing to provide j

A Syrian court sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death on Tuesday after a trial in absentia, convicting him of crimes including killings, torture, and arbitrary arrest during the country's nearly 14-year war.

Bashar al-Assad fled Syria in December 2024 and remains in Moscow

The ex-president is convicted of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war.

The Criminal Court in Damascus on Tuesday found Bashar al-Assad guilty of premeditated murder.

DAMASCUS, Aug 11 - A Syrian court sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death on Tuesday after a trial in absentia, convicting him of crimes including killings, torture, and arbitrary arrest during the country's nearly 14-year war.

A Syrian court has sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad to death in absentia. The ruling comes more than a year and a half after the former dictator was overthrown and fled to Russia.

Ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia  Dawn

A Syrian court sentenced in absentia ousted Syrian president Bashar Assad along with his younger brother to death on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead.

Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia  itv.com

A Syrian court handed death sentences to Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher — both in absentia — alongside their cousin Atef Najib, who attended the trial in a cage and was found guilty of leading the 2011 Daraa crackdown that sparked the civil war.

A Syrian court has sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of crimes including killings, torture, and arbitrary arrest during the country's nearly 14-year war.

A Syrian court has sentenced ex-president Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother to death for crimes against humanity and war crimes which left around half a million people dead

The court also sentenced Assad-era official Atif Najib to death for "crimes against humanity" committed when he was head of political security in Daraa province, the cradle of the country's 2011 uprising.

A Syrian court has sentenced former ruler Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, after convicting him over charges of 'war crimes' and 'crimes against humanity'

Bashar Assad along with his younger brother Maher were sentenced to death on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria's civil war.

Bashar al-Assad gets death sentence by local Syrian courtSyria's former president and ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad and Atef Najib, the former head of political security in the southern province of Deraa, have been sentenced to death by a criminal court in Damascus.According to the Daily Mail, the court on Tuesday co

Ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death for war crimes  lbc.co.uk

The ruling against Assad is the first under the transitional authorities who this year began trying figures from the former government, both in person and in absentia.

Syria: Court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia in landmark trial MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 09:46 Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder Of

The ruling came in on Tuesday morning. 09:43, Tue, Aug 11, 2026 Updated: 09:49, Tue, Aug 11, 2026 Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in late 2024 (Image: Getty)Syria’s ex-president Bashar al-Assad and Atef Najib, the former head of political security in southern Syria’s Deraa province, have been sentenced to death. The Syr

Former Syrian president Bashar al Assad has been sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes, following a ruling by a court in the country.

The court convicted Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December 2024, over charges of "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity" during the Syrian civil war.

Syria’s ex-president Bashar al-Assad and Atef Najib, the former head of political security in southern Syria’s Deraa province, have been sentenced to death.More to come…