Atef Najib faces at least 10 charges in landmark Syria trial
Summary
Atef Najib, a cousin of Bashar al-Assad and former head of political security in southern Syria, has been charged with at least 10 crimes including murder and torture. His trial in Damascus is the first major attempt in Syria to hold mid-level officials from the Assad era responsible for abuses during the 2011 uprising.Key Facts
- Atef Najib is accused of overseeing violent crackdowns on antigovernment protesters in Deraa, which helped start the Syrian civil war.
- Najib faces charges such as murder, torture, and responsibility for massacres.
- The trial is held in the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus and includes testimonies from 75 plaintiffs.
- Najib appeared in court wearing a prison uniform, inside a cage for security reasons.
- This trial is part of a new effort by Syria’s interim government to pursue justice for crimes committed during Assad’s rule.
- Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher are being tried in absentia after fleeing Syria in December 2024.
- Najib was arrested in January 2025 during a security campaign targeting former officials.
- The case started after teenagers in Deraa were arrested and tortured for antigovernment graffiti, sparking wider protests.
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