DAMASCUS
A Syrian court on Tuesday handed a death sentence to Wassim Assad who appeared in the dock, a cousin of longtime ruler Bashar Assad who was himself sentenced to death in absentia last week. The 46-year-old relative of Assad was convicted over atrocities committed under the autocrat’s rule during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war.
Judge Fakhr Al-Din Al-Aryan said Assad’s cousin was convicted of multiple murders and “murder accompanied by torture and brutality… classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes,” adding that “he is therefore sentenced to death.”
Syria in April began proceedings against Bashar Assad and other officials accused of atrocities during the country’s civil war, which erupted with the brutal repression of pro-democracy protesters by the former authorities. More than half a million people were subsequently killed and millions displaced, while tens of thousands disappeared.
The court found that Wassim Assad had formed two armed groups loyal to the former authorities that took part in deadly attacks near capital Damascus. It also convicted him of inciting civil war and sectarian fighting, as well as deprivation of liberty and torture.
