Syrian court sentences ousted regime grand mufti to life imprisonment

Syria's Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus on Monday sentenced Ahmed Hassoun, the former grand mufti of the ousted Assad regime, to life imprisonment after convicting him of "inciting civil war and sectarian strife," according to a judicial announcement. Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, who heads the tribunal, stated that investigations had proved Hassoun's "involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes."

The court additionally ordered the confiscation of all Hassoun's assets for the benefit of the public treasury, the judge added. Syrian authorities had arrested the former mufti in March 2025 as he attempted to leave the country, acting on an outstanding warrant issued by the new administration.

Transitional justice under new administration

The arrest came weeks after the Assad regime's overthrow in December 2024 and the subsequent formation of a transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, which took office in January 2025. The new authorities have since established accountability and transitional justice mechanisms to investigate crimes committed under the former government, targeting senior figures who served during the previous administration.

Accountability campaign continues

Monday's verdict represents a significant step in the new authorities' efforts to prosecute senior figures of the former administration, with additional trials of ex-regime officials expected to follow in the coming months. The sentencing marks one of the most prominent legal actions taken against religious leaders of the ousted regime since the transitional government initiated its accountability drive earlier this year.