Syrian Court Sentences Former President's Cousin Wasim Al Assad to Death for Premeditated Murder

A Syrian court has handed down a death sentence to Wasim Al Assad, a cousin of former president Bashar Al Assad, according to state media reports. Handed down by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, the ruling found him guilty of premeditated murder.

Security forces successfully apprehended Wasim Al Assad in June, marking a major breakthrough. At the time of his arrest, the Interior Ministry characterized him as the leader of the Baath Brigades militia as well as “one of the top narcotics dealers and criminals in the bygone regime”.

This ruling follows last week's decision where Bashar Al Assad was sentenced to death in absentia. That conviction was for mass murder and additional crimes linked to the brutal crackdown during the 2011 uprising against his rule in Deraa.

Furthermore, a court in Damascus also sentenced the toppled president's brother Maher and security official Atif Najib to death, alongside six other former regime officials, on charges of murder and torture. More updates to follow...