Syrian court sentences Assad cousin to death for war crimes

Damascus' Fourth Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to death for crimes against humanity, concluding the sixth hearing in a trial that began last month following his arrest near the Lebanese border.

Evidence of crimes

Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan said the court established through evidence that an armed group affiliated with Wassim attacked a commercial shop in the southern town of Jaramana, stole its contents and abducted its owner due to his opposition to the former government. The same group participated in the abduction and killing of citizens across multiple areas, including military operations targeting civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta that resulted in deaths. Wassim was also convicted of intentional killing, torture and drug trafficking, according to the SANA news agency.

Paramilitary activities

The conviction stems from Wassim's leadership of irregular armed groups formed in early 2011 under orders from Brig. Gen. Ghiath Dalla, a brigade commander in the Fourth Division led by Assad's brother Maher. These units conducted operations in southwestern Syria, particularly around the town of Mleiha in Eastern Ghouta, according to court documents cited by SANA. Syrian security forces arrested Wassim on June 21 near the Syrian-Lebanese border, and his trial commenced three days later.

Wider prosecutions

The verdict follows last week's death sentences handed down by the same court against Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher, and six former officials for killings, torture, and war crimes. Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia on Dec. 8, 2024, ending nearly 25 years of rule and the Baath Party's decades-long dominance since 1963. A transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January 2025 to govern Syria.