Assad Sentenced to Death in Absentia | Sydney News

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s former dictator, has been sentenced to death in a trial he never attended — convicted of mass killings, torture, and unlawful imprisonment during his brutal 15-year rule. This marks the first time Assad himself faced legal consequences for his crimes. Forced out of power in December 2024 after years of civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, he now resides in Moscow, where returning to Syria is virtually impossible. His cousin Atef Najib, also sentenced to death and present in court behind bars, was once part of Assad’s security apparatus. The verdict raises urgent questions about whether Syria’s new government can persuade Russia — Assad’s longtime ally — to extradite him. The roots of this tragedy trace back to 2011, when peaceful protests against tyranny spiraled into a devastating conflict that reshaped the Middle East. 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/88be3b23754ffe24