Syrian court sentences Assad’s brother, 7 former security officials to death

A court in Damascus on Tuesday sentenced Maher al-Assad, the brother of former President Bashar al-Assad, and seven former security officials, including former security chief in Daraa province Atef Najib, to death.

Judge al-Aryan of the Fourth Criminal Court said Maher, who is a fugitive, was convicted of premeditated murder and torture leading to death, the SANA news agency reported.

The court also sentenced Najib, a cousin of Assad, to death on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder.

The court said Najib, the former head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa, was involved in interrogating detainees following the outbreak of protests in the southwestern province, and leading a security campaign against civilians in the area.

"The acts attributed to Atef Najib, according to investigations and witness statements, are crimes against humanity," the judge said.

The court also sentenced six other people to death in absentia in the same trial.

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