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A Damascus court has sentenced Atef Najib, a former Syrian security official, to death for his role in state crimes during the country’s civil war. Najib, 66, served as head of political security in Deraa province and was convicted alongside ousted leader Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher, both sentenced in absentia. The Fourth Criminal Court determined that actions taken by the regime in Deraa during 2011 constituted crimes against humanity.
Najib’s position made him a significant figure in the early stages of Syria’s conflict. He oversaw the security apparatus when teenagers were arrested and tortured for anti-government graffiti, an incident that sparked broader protests and ultimately contributed to the uprising. Charged with at least 10 crimes including murder, torture, and responsibility for massacres, Najib faced testimony from 75 plaintiffs during his trial proceedings, which began in April.
Unlike al-Assad and other regime members who fled to Russia after the government fell in December 2024, Najib remained in Syria and was arrested in January 2025. Legal experts view this trial as a crucial examination of Syria’s transitional justice system and the new interim government’s commitment to accountability. The case represents the first judicial decision against a high-ranking former security official under Syria’s current transitional authorities.
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Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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