Syrian Public Prosecution Demands Execution of Assad Regime's Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun
- Court sets August 24 as the date for sentencing after conclusion of hearings
The trial of Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun, the mufti of the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, has reached its final stage, following the Syrian Public Prosecution’s demand for the death penalty against him. The court has scheduled late August for the delivery of the verdict.
The Judicial Palace in Damascus hosted the fifth session of Hassoun’s trial before the specialized Fourth Court of Assizes on Thursday, as part of Syria’s transitional justice process. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the court set August 24 for the deliberation and issuance of the judgment.
Summary of Today’s News
Ridif Mustafa, Director of the Accountability and Justice Administration at the National Authority for Transitional Justice, clarified that the Public Prosecution based its request on the evidence and facts presented in the case file, calling for the application of the maximum legal penalty against the defendant, which is the death penalty.
He added that the public prosecutor submitted a written memorandum affirming Hassoun’s responsibility for the crimes attributed to him, while the defense team requested an additional period to complete its final arguments, leaving the court to decide whether to accept or reject the request.
Mustafa noted that the session represents one of the final stages in the legal proceedings, following the presentation of evidence, hearings, and the defendant’s final statements. He emphasized that the case is now ready for adjudication in accordance with the law and the guarantees of a fair trial.
He further stated that Hassoun’s trial, along with several other cases, has entered its final stages, reflecting the seriousness of the judicial process in addressing grave crimes and reinforcing the principle of the rule of law.
During its fourth session held on July 29, the court heard testimony from a confidential witness who claimed he was subjected to financial extortion by Ahmad Hassoun while attempting to secure the release of his sister, who had been arrested by security branches in Damascus in 2012.
The first sessions of the trial of the mufti of the ousted Assad regime began on June 25, following the arrest of Hassoun by Syrian authorities in March 2025 while he was attempting to leave the country, in execution of an arrest warrant issued by the Public Prosecution.
