Syria Opens Landmark Trial Against Bashar Al Assad and Former Officials
Email: online@newsofbahrain.com
Damascus: A Syrian court has begun the first hearing in the trial of former ruler Bashar Al Assad and senior members of his government. Assad and his brother Maher, who fled the country, will be tried in absentia, while former security official Atif Najib appeared in court in handcuffs.
Najib, who once led political security in Daraa—where the 2011 uprising began—is accused of overseeing arrests and a wide campaign of repression. The hearing mainly focused on legal preparations, with the next session scheduled for May 10.
The case marks the start of what officials call “transitional justice” after the fall of Assad’s government in 2024, which ended decades of his family’s rule. The civil war that followed the 2011 uprising killed over half a million people, displaced millions, and saw widespread destruction, airstrikes, and mass detentions.
More former officials, including relatives of Assad and senior security figures, are expected to face trial as Syria’s new leadership pushes for accountability over past abuses.
Related Posts