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**Damascus, Syria – April 29, 2026** – In a landmark moment for post-Assad Syria, a court in Damascus has begun the country’s first public trial of senior officials from the fallen regime of Bashar al-Assad, marking the start of domestic transitional justice after decades of authoritarian rule and civil war.
The proceedings, which opened on April 26, focus on atrocities committed during the early days of the 2011 uprising. The most prominent defendant present in court is Atef Najib (also spelled Atif Najib), a former brigadier general and cousin of Bashar al-Assad. Najib served as head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa province, where the initial protests erupted. He faces serious charges including crimes against humanity, premeditated murder, torture resulting in death, and other abuses linked to the regime’s violent crackdown on demonstrators.
Prosecutors allege that Najib’s forces were directly involved in the arrests, torture, and killings that escalated the protests in Daraa into a nationwide conflict. The case includes references to the detention and abuse of teenagers—known as the “Daraa boys”—and the death of 13-year-old Hamza al-Khatib, whose tortured body became a symbol of regime brutality in 2011.
Several high-profile figures are being tried in absentia, including former President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia following the regime’s collapse in late 2024, his brother Maher al-Assad, former commander of the elite 4th Armored Division, and other senior security officials.
Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan presided over the opening session and described the trial as “the first trials of transitional justice in Syria.” The courtroom was open to the public, with victims’ families and observers in attendance, underscoring the symbolic importance of holding the once-untouchable regime accountable on Syrian soil.
This domestic trial represents a significant shift from previous accountability efforts, which had largely taken place in European courts under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Analysts view it as an initial but crucial step toward broader reckoning for crimes committed during the 13-year civil war. While the current focus is on the regime’s actions in Daraa, Syrian authorities have signaled that more cases will follow.
Challenges remain, including the capacity of the judicial system, ongoing security concerns in parts of the country, and questions about ensuring comprehensive justice that addresses violations by all sides of the conflict. Nevertheless, many Syrians see these proceedings as a long-overdue reclamation of justice and a foundation for national reconciliation.
The trial continues amid heightened international attention, with global observers monitoring how the new Syrian leadership handles this delicate phase of post-conflict accountability.
