Trials of High-Ranking Officials from Bashar al-Assad's Era Begin in Damascus
The first trials of prominent figures from the era of the overthrown Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will begin tomorrow in Damascus, it was unofficially announced by the Syrian Ministry of Justice.
TL;DR
- The first trials of prominent figures from the era of the overthrown Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will begin in Damascus.
- Atif Najib, former head of political security in Daraa province, is the first to be tried, accused of organizing repression.
- Najib is on the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions list and is a relative of Bashar al-Assad.
- Future trials are expected for another Assad relative, Wissam al-Assad, and Amjad Yousef, a suspect in a 2013 massacre.
- Pilots involved in bombing Syrian cities and towns are also expected to face trial.
- The Syrian Minister of Justice stated that the Damascus Criminal Court is ready for the start of public trials, which are part of transitional justice.