Now Reading: Syrian court sentences ex-president Bashar al-Assad to death
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Syrian court sentences ex-president Bashar al-Assad to death
A Syrian court has sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of killings, torture, and arbitrary arrest during the country’s near 14-year war. The verdict,…
The Story in Brief
A Syrian court has sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad to death after a trial in absentia, convicting him of killings, torture, and arbitrary arrest during the country’s near 14-year war. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday, marks the first conviction against Assad since he was ousted in a rebel offensive in December 2024.
Assad fled Damascus nearly two years ago as rebels approached and is currently in Moscow. The court also handed a death sentence to Atef Najib, a security official under Assad. The trial covered crimes including premeditated murder of more than one person and of children, torture, and crimes against humanity.
The Indian Opinion
The death sentence against Assad is largely symbolic, given he remains in Moscow. Some narratives frame this as a victory for justice, but a trial in absentia by a court that operates under the same rebel-aligned authorities raises questions about due process. Will Russia ever extradite him, or will this be used as a diplomatic bargaining chip in the coming years?
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
