Syria begins first trial for ousted Assad, allies
France 24 • • world
Key Points:
- A Syrian court held the first hearing in the trial of ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad and senior government figures, with Assad and his brother Maher tried in absentia while former security official Atif Najib appeared in person in handcuffs.
- Najib, arrested in January 2025, is accused of leading a campaign of repression and arrests in Daraa, where Syria’s 2011 uprising began, and appeared in court wearing a striped prison uniform.
- The hearing marked the start of Syria’s transitional justice process aimed at addressing atrocities committed during Assad’s regime amid the country’s ongoing efforts to provide accountability after 13 years of civil war.
- Future in-person trials are expected to involve other figures including Wassim al-Assad, former grand mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun, and military and security officials detained by the new authorities.
- The judge announced a second hearing scheduled for May 10, while Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa reaffirmed justice as a key goal for the state and its institutions.
