Former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia

{"text":[[{"start":8,"text":"A Syrian court sentenced ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother Maher to death in absentia in the first such ruling against the former dictator since his regime was toppled in 2024."}],[{"start":20.2,"text":"Bashar, who fled to Russia after rebels over-ran his regime following a near 14-year civil war, was convicted of crimes including the premeditated murder of multiple people, murder of children, torture and arbitrary detention."}],[{"start":34.6,"text":"The court also sentenced Assad’s cousin Atef Najib — who is in Syrian custody — to death, convicting him of crimes including premeditated murder and torture."}],[{"start":45.650000000000006,"text":"Judge Fakhereddine al-Aryan said Najib, who appeared in the courtroom in a cage, was responsible for a deadly crackdown on protesters in Deraa during the start of the Syrian uprising. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":56.35000000000001,"text":"Assad’s regime carried out a bloody crackdown on a peaceful uprising in 2011 which then spiralled into a civil war in which 500,000 people were killed and others imprisoned and tortured by the regime. Maher headed the army’s notorious Fourth Division. "}],[{"start":69.80000000000001,"text":"Assad has been living in Moscow with his family since his ally Vladimir Putin granted him asylum after the regime was toppled by rebel forces led by now-President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Maher is also in Russia."}],[{"start":82.20000000000002,"text":"The Syrian court convicted Maher and six others of premeditated murder and torture, sentencing them to death in absentia."}],[{"start":90.25000000000001,"text":"Syrians demonstrated outside the courthouse, holding up posters of those who were killed during the bloody suppression of protesters in Deraa, which began after teenagers accused of writing anti-regime slogans were tortured and helped ignite the nationwide uprising. State news showed the demonstrators celebrating Najib’s conviction. "}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":109.35000000000002,"text":"Syria has yet to pass a comprehensive transitional justice law to address crimes committed during the civil war, including by the vast apparatus working for the regime and other armed factions. A newly formed legislature plans to discuss a draft law."}],[{"start":124.60000000000002,"text":"Radeef Moustafa, a lawyer who is part of the national commission for transitional justice, told state media that “we see this ruling as an important step, not the end of the road. There are cases still being reviewed.”"}],[{"start":137.95000000000002,"text":"“Justice is not based on revenge, but rather on truth, law, accountability and fairness,” Moustafa added. "}],[{"start":146.20000000000002,"text":"Separately, Lebanese lawmakers on Tuesday voted to abolish the death penalty and replace it with hard labour. While Lebanon has not carried out any executions since 2004, Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s regional director for the Middle East and north Africa, said: “Today’s step transforms a precarious hiatus in executions into lasting legal protection.”"}],[{"start":168.20000000000002,"text":"During the debate over the law in parliament on Tuesday, Lebanon’s justice minister suggested abolishing the death penalty would help Lebanon to extradite people from other jurisdictions."}],[{"start":186.95000000000002,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1786494112_1347.mp3"}