DAMASCUS, Syria.  A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad and his younger brother, Maher Assad, to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Syria’s 14-year conflict, a devastating war that claimed roughly half a million lives.

The ruling, issued by Damascus’ Fourth Criminal Court, represents the first criminal sentences against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power ended 20 months ago.

“Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan said during a court hearing that was broadcast live on Syrian state television.

Assad’s maternal cousin, Atef Najib, was also sentenced to death after being convicted of directing a crackdown in the southern province of Daraa. The campaign helped trigger the uprising that eventually developed into a full-scale civil war. Al-Aryan said Najib has the right to appeal the verdict.

Security was heavy around the courthouse as Najib stood inside a prisoner’s cage wearing a uniform while the judge announced his sentence. Outside the central Damascus courthouse, a crowd gathered to listen to the verdict.

“Today is the day of justice for all the wounded, martyrs, detainees and Syrians who were forced to leave their country,” said attorney Adnan al-Masalmeh, who represented relatives of Najib’s victims. “Today marks a victory of right against injustice, a victory of the Syrian people against the ousted regime.”

Assad and Maher Assad fled to Russia after their government collapsed in December 2024 and were granted political asylum. Syria’s new authorities have since called on Moscow to surrender the two brothers.

Najib, who was placed under U.S. Treasury sanctions in April 2011, was subsequently detained and became one of the most senior Assad-era security officials to face trial.

A former Syrian army brigadier general, Najib headed the Political Security Branch in Daraa province in 2011 under Assad’s government.

During his time in charge, more than a dozen teenagers were arrested and tortured after writing anti-government graffiti on a school wall in Daraa. The incident became one of the sparks that ignited widespread demonstrations against the repression carried out by Assad’s security forces.

The demonstrations were answered with a violent government crackdown, eventually escalating into a 14-year civil war that ended when Assad was removed from power following a rapid rebel offensive.

Several of Najib’s victims attended Tuesday’s court proceedings. Among them were two men who had been teenagers when they were detained in 2011 and who later spoke with The Associated Press.

“Today we reached a point where the blood was not wasted,” said Mouawiya Sayasneh, referring to those killed during the crackdown. Fifteen years later, “there is happiness that Atef Najib was sentenced to death,” he said.

Nayef Abazeid, who was detained when he was just 13 years old in 2011, also welcomed the ruling. He said that “our biggest happiness will be when Bashar Assad is executed.”

Maher Assad previously commanded the Syrian military’s 4th Armored Division, a powerful unit that opposition activists have accused of carrying out killings, torture and extortion, as well as involvement in drug trafficking and operating its own detention facilities.

“Today’s scenes outside the courthouse reflect 15 years of pain and a justice long denied. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all cases, including this one,” said Hiba Zayadin, Syria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It’s cruel and irreversible, especially when a fair trial isn’t guaranteed.”

Zayadin emphasized that Najib is entitled to appeal and said the appeals process “needs to meet fair trial standards too.” She added that meaningful accountability for crimes committed during the Assad era will ultimately require Syria to establish a durable and credible justice system.