Damascus, Syria (HRNW): Human Rights Watch has described Syria’s first domestic verdicts concerning crimes committed during the Assad era as an important opportunity for accountability, while warning that major legal and fair-trial reforms are needed if the country’s transitional justice process is to gain credibility. The organization issued its assessment on 23 August 2026.
On 11 August, a Syrian court convicted former Political Security Branch chief Atef Najib and seven other defendants tried in absentia, including former President Bashar al-Assad, in connection with serious crimes. Human Rights Watch said the proceedings represent an important development for Syrians seeking accountability for abuses committed under the former government.
However, the organization raised concerns about the transparency of proceedings, access to legal representation, trials in absentia and the use of the death penalty. All eight defendants in the Najib case were sentenced to death, while Human Rights Watch opposes capital punishment in all circumstances.
Human Rights Watch said public information about the proceedings has been limited. Although selected organizations were allowed to observe hearings and some sessions were livestreamed, the organization argued that broader transparency and clearer procedures are necessary for the trials to meet international standards.
The NGO is calling for Syria’s justice system to be strengthened so that investigations and prosecutions are independent, impartial, transparent and consistent with international fair-trial standards. It also says accountability should address serious crimes committed by all parties to the conflict rather than focusing exclusively on former government officials.
Human Rights Watch has further urged Syrian authorities to preserve archives, detention records and other evidence of past abuses and to cooperate with international mechanisms that have documented violations in Syria.
The developments are significant because transitional justice involves more than criminal convictions. Human Rights Watch emphasizes the importance of truth, reparations, memorialization, institutional reform and guarantees of non-recurrence alongside prosecutions.
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Disclaimer
This HRNW report is based on publicly available information and assessments published by Human Rights Watch concerning Syria’s transitional-justice proceedings. References to alleged crimes, defendants and legal concerns reflect information from the cited sources and should not be interpreted as independent judicial findings by HRNW. HRNW maintains complete editorial independence.
