It’s the first trial “associated to transitional justice in Syria”, in keeping with its choose. The Damascus Legal Court docket offered the fees this Sunday, together with accusations of “ crimes against humanity », held towards Atef Najib, cousin of Bachar al-Assad and former head of political safety in Daraa, cradle of the 2011 rebellion. This is what we all know?
Why is he being judged?
Atef Najib appeared earlier than the courtroom, on the second day of this trial which should additionally choose in absentia Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher, who fled Syria after their fall in December 2024. Throughout a listening to partially broadcast on Syrian tv, the choose learn the indictment.
“The fees towards you relate to occasions in Daraa province in early 2011, when the peaceable protest motion was suppressed with extreme violence,” mentioned Choose Kakhr al-Din al-Aryan.
What acts are he accused of?
“As head of the political safety service, you bear direct or joint duty for acts which have systematically focused civilians, together with killings, torture and arbitrary detentions,” he added. He’s additionally being prosecuted for “torture adopted by demise” within the detention middle of the political safety service.
The acts dedicated by Atef Najib and the opposite accused “are akin to war crimes and crimes towards humanity,” mentioned Kakhr al-Din al-Aryan. The courtroom then heard statements from Atef Najib and several other witnesses, whereas the choose ended the tv broadcast, state media reported.
In what context have been these acts dedicated?
The revolt of the Syrian inhabitants started on March 15, 2011 after the arrest in Daraa of 15 college students accused of getting written anti-government slogans on the partitions of the town. Atef Najib, thought-about answerable for the repression, was dismissed from workplace shortly after.
The civil battle, which devastated the nation for 13 years, left greater than half 1,000,000 useless. Syrian forces have shelled rebel-held areas, whereas tens of hundreds of individuals have disappeared, together with from prisons.
After coming to energy, the brand new Islamist authorities carried out a number of arrests of former officers and promised justice for the crimes of the earlier energy. Atef Najib is likely one of the first leaders below Bashar al-Assad to be arrested by the authorities after the fall of it.
