Amnesty International objects to the use of the death penalty against Bashar al-Assad

Amnesty International has called on the Syrian government to abolish the use of the death penalty and trial in absentia, in response to a court ruling today in Damascus sentencing former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to death. In a statement, the organization said: “A Syrian court today issued a trial-in-absentia death sentence against former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and their cousin and former security official Atif Najib, following their conviction for crimes committed during the conflict. This marks the first ruling of its kind issued by the transitional authorities in Syria. However, for the government to truly turn the page on the horrors of the past, it must abolish trials in absentia, abolish the use of the death penalty, criminalize core international crimes in national legislation, and carry out comprehensive judicial reform to ensure that all judicial proceedings fully respect fair trial guarantees, international law, and international standards.” It added: “Prosecuting officials responsible for the atrocious crimes committed during the Assad era must constitute an important step toward achieving justice, uncovering the truth, and providing reparation to tens of thousands of victims. Such prosecutions should take place before ordinary, fair civilian courts, with the participation of victims and without recourse to the death penalty, and should be part of a comprehensive, victim-centered strategy implemented nationwide, ensuring the uncovering of the truth, the achievement of justice, and the provision of reparation.”