Fifteen years after the start of Syria's civil war, the country has launched its first open trial of high-ranking officials from the era of former President Bashar al-Assad. The court session took place on Sunday in Damascus, with former head of political security in Daraa province, Atef Najib, in attendance.
He is accused of leading a brutal crackdown on protesters during the 2011 uprising and committing 'crimes against the Syrian people', according to the state news agency SANA. Najib is a cousin of Assad and was the sole defendant in the session, which will continue next month.
Among those charged in absentia are Assad himself, his brother Maher, and other senior security officials. They face accusations of murder, torture, extortion, and drug trafficking. Families of victims from Daraa attended the session, with celebrations held outside the building.
A representative of Syria's Ministry of Justice said the open trial is important to ensure transparency in the transitional justice process and judicial independence. When Najib led political security in Daraa, an incident occurred where teenagers were arrested and tortured for painting anti-government graffiti on a school wall, which became a catalyst for the uprising.
Subsequent protests were met with a harsh government crackdown, escalating into a 14-year civil war. The war ended with Assad's overthrow in December 2024. Assad fled to Russia, and many of his associates also left Syria. The government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has faced criticism for delaying transitional justice, but now the prosecution of Assad-era officials is actively underway.
