Syria court don sentence Wassim al-Assad, wey be cousin of former President Bashar al-Assad, to death over war crimes and crimes against humanity. Di sentence come on Tuesday, one week after Bashar and im brother Maher also receive death sentence for absentia.
Wassim, wey be 46 years old and born for Latakia, na im be di first al-Assad family member to face sentencing in person. Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan talk say Wassim commit multiple murders and “murder accompanied by torture and brutality.” Dem classify dis as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Di court find Wassim guilty of forming two armed groups wey loyal to di former authorities, and dem take part for deadly attacks near Damascus, especially for Eastern Ghouta and di town of al-Mleiha. Dem also convict am of inciting civil war and sectarian fighting, as well as deprivation of liberty and torture.
However, di court free am on drug trafficking charges because dem say no sufficient evidence to show im direct involvement. But di court still order make dem confiscate im assets. Di ruling fit go appeal to di court of cassation.
Wassim bin don dey under United States and European sanctions. Dem arrest am for June 2025 near di Lebanese-Syrian border, wen im dey return from Lebanon. During di war, im bin dey post images of imself for social media with luxury cars and military gear, sometimes dey urge men to fight for di now-deposed leader.
Di trial na part of Syria transitional justice process wey di new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa don start. Dem begin di proceedings for April, and dem don sentence Bashar, Maher, and Atif Najib to death. Najib na di only one wey dem sentence in person, and dem hold am since January 2025.
People outside di courthouse for Damascus celebrate di sentence. United Nations talk say dem no support death penalty, but dem say “addressing long-standing demands for justice, accountability, and truth can contribute to restoring confidence in institutions and sustainable peace.”
Di war don kill almost half a million people, and millions don comot from dia homes. Wassim na one of many officials wey di new authorities dey try to bring to justice for di atrocities wey dem commit under Bashar rule.
