Syria begins first trial of Bashar al-Assad and allies after his ouster
Summary
A Syrian court started the first trial of ousted President Bashar al-Assad and some top members of his government. Assad and his brother fled Syria and are being tried without being present, while former security official Atif Najib appeared in court in handcuffs.Key Facts
- The trial began on April 26, 2026, in Damascus, Syria.
- Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher fled Syria after Islamist forces advanced on Damascus in December 2024.
- Assad and Maher are being tried in absentia (not physically present in court).
- Atif Najib, a former security official, appeared in court in handcuffs; he was arrested in January 2025.
- Najib is accused of leading a repression campaign in Daraa, where Syria's 2011 uprising started.
- The trial is the first of its kind under Syria’s new authorities aiming for transitional justice after years of civil war.
- The judge announced a second hearing set for May 10, 2026.
- Other relatives and officials, including Wassim al-Assad and former grand mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun, may also face trial.
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