A Syrian court has sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad and his younger brother to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the country's 14-year conflict, which has resulted in approximately half a million deaths. The ruling was issued on Tuesday.
Also sentenced to death in the same case was Atef Najib, Assad's maternal cousin, who was found responsible for leading the crackdown in the southern province of Daraa. This crackdown is considered a precursor to the uprising and subsequent civil war.
Atef Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general, served as the head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa province under Assad in 2011. He was later detained and is now one of the highest-ranking officials to face trial. Najib was present in court, standing inside a cage in a prisoner's uniform as the judge read the sentence.
Assad and his brother Maher reportedly fled to Russia after insurgents entered Damascus in December 2014. The conflict, now in its 14th year, has led to widespread devastation and a significant loss of life.