Life Sentence for Former Syrian Religious Leader in Damascus Court
A former prominent religious figure in Syria has been given a life sentence, marking a significant development in the legal actions against figures associated with the former regime of Bashar Assad. The individual in question is Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, who served as the grand mufti from 2005 until the role was dissolved in 2021.
Hassoun, known for his support of Assad’s regime, was found guilty of inciting violence and justifying murder. Judge Fakhreddine al-Aryan, presiding over the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, stated that the religious establishment under Assad’s governance “justified the use of barrel bombs that targeted civilian areas and caused widespread destruction, which constitutes a violation of the rules of international humanitarian law.”
In recent weeks, several high-ranking officials from Assad’s era, including Assad himself and his brother, Maher, have faced death sentences in absentia. Unlike these officials, Hassoun was present during his trial.
While some human rights organizations have raised doubts about the fairness and speed of these trials, many Syrians have expressed approval, feeling that the new government is finally taking decisive action against figures from Assad’s time in power.
The backdrop to these events is the mass protests that began in 2011 against the government, which were met with a harsh crackdown, leading to a civil war that lasted nearly 14 years. This conflict resulted in approximately 500,000 deaths and displaced more than half of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million people.
The civil war concluded with the ousting of Assad in a swift offensive by Islamist-led insurgents in December 2024.
