Assad Brother and Cousin Sentenced to Death | Lubbock News

For the first time since the Assad regime fell, former Syrian president Bashar Assad and his brother Maher have been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Also convicted: Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin and former security chief in Daraa, whose violent crackdown on graffiti protesters in 2011 ignited Syria’s civil war. Najib, already U.S.-sanctioned and visibly caged in court, is now the highest-ranking official ever tried for these crimes. Though Assad and Maher fled to Russia and received asylum, Syria’s new government demands their extradition — signaling a historic reckoning for those who ruled for decades. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/089fbddd1f50f85e