Syria: A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar Assad and his brother to death for crimes against humanity and war crimes that led to Syria’s 14-year conflict, which has caused nearly half a million deaths.
In the same case, Assad’s cousin, Atef Najib, was also sentenced to death for his role in the coup. Najib appeared in a guarded courtroom wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the verdict was delivered.
Bashar Assad and his brother Maher are in Russia, having fled Syria after rebel forces stormed Damascus in December 2014. Najib, meanwhile, has been arrested and is one of the most senior officials to face trial.
Najib previously served as a brigadier general in the Syrian army and led the political security branch in Daraa in 2011.