Atef Najib faces first public trial in Syria for crimes against the Syrian people
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Apr 26
Atef Najib faces first public trial in Syria for crimes against the Syrian people
13 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Apr 26
The trial began in Damascus with Najib, Assad’s cousin and former Deraa security chief, as the sole defendant; charges also target Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, and other officials in absentia.
Najib is accused of overseeing the 2011 crackdown in Deraa that sparked Syria’s civil war, and faces allegations of killings, torture, extortion, and drug trafficking. Crowds, including victims’ families, gathered outside the court in celebration.
This marks a significant step in Syria’s transitional justice process under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, following criticism over delays. Authorities recently arrested another ex-official, Amjad Yousef, for the 2013 Tadamon massacre.
Is Syria's first major trial a genuine step toward justice or merely political theater?
What are the chances of extraditing Bashar Assad from Russia to face trial?
How can Syria's new amnesty law coexist with the demand for war crimes accountability?
With Assad gone, why do enforced disappearances and torture persist in the new Syria?
Are the foreign fighters who ousted Assad now the biggest threat to Syria's new government?
Can a former insurgency commander transform Syria into a stable, West-leaning state?
Syria’s First High-Profile Assad Regime Trial: Atef Najib Faces Crimes Against Humanity
Overview
On April 26, 2026, Syria began a landmark trial of Atef Najib, a former brigadier general and cousin of Bashar al-Assad, for his role in the brutal 2011 crackdown in Daraa that sparked the civil war. This trial marks the first step in a broader transitional justice process initiated by the new government after the regime's collapse in 2024. While victims and the public express cautious hope, challenges remain, including the lack of domestic laws and the protection of key fugitives like Bashar al-Assad in Russia. The process aims to balance accountability with healing, seeking to rebuild trust and stability in post-conflict Syria.