Syrian court gives Assad death sentence in absentia over war crimes

A Syrian court sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia on Aug. 11, convicting him of killings, torture, arbitrary arrest and crimes against humanity tied to the country's nearly 14-year civil war. The ruling is the first conviction against Assad since rebels ousted him in December 2024, ending his family's decades in power. Reuters reported that former security official Atef Najib also received a death sentence. NPR said Assad's brother Maher al-Assad was sentenced as well. Najib was accused of helping lead the 2011 crackdown in Daraa, where the arrest and torture of teenagers who wrote anti-government graffiti helped ignite the uprising.