A Syrian court has handed down death sentences to former president Bashar al-Assad and his cousin, Atef Najib. The proceedings, which resulted in a sentence delivered in absentia for Assad, are centered on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. While Assad was not present for the ruling, his cousin Atef Najib was reportedly in the Damascus courtroom at the time the sentence was issued.

Reports indicate that the charges stem from the government's response to the 2011 uprising, which served as a catalyst for the broader Syrian conflict. Najib specifically faced accusations regarding his role in overseeing the state crackdown during the early stages of the unrest. The legal proceedings represent a significant, albeit largely symbolic, development given that Assad remains in power and the court's jurisdiction is currently contested by various factions within the country.

There is a slight variation in how the charges were characterized by different outlets. The Times of Israel specifically frames the legal action as being for "war crimes," whereas Iran International describes the convictions as being for "crimes against humanity." Both outlets agree on the core outcome of the sentencing and the involvement of Najib in the courtroom proceedings.