Syrian Court Sentences Assad Brothers to Death in High-Profile Trial

A Damascus Criminal Court Sentenced Bashar al-Assad's Brother to Death

In recent days, the Criminal Court in Damascus, the capital city of Syria, issued a verdict sentencing former President Bashar al-Assad's brother and former Director of Political Security in Daraa Province, Adnan Bakkour, to death. Although Bashar al-Assad's brother was absent due to fleeing, the verdict still included him in the list of death row inmates. The court simultaneously issued an arrest warrant, calling for his capture and accusing him of premeditated murder and crimes against humanity.

Syria's judicial system is a mixed jurisdiction that combines Ottoman, French, and Islamic laws. The civil, commercial, and penal codes are mainly based on French law and were promulgated in 1949 with special provisions limiting the application of local customary law and minority law. Some areas still have Islamic religious courts, but their jurisdiction is only limited to personal status issues, such as marriage, divorce, guardianship, child support, and inheritance. In 1955, Syria developed a set of laws regarding personal status, regulating many aspects of personal status, modifying Islamic law, and improving the status of women, explicitly stating the provisions of succession law.

During Bashar al-Assad's rule from 2000 to 2021, Syria experienced severe human rights abuses and civil war. The Syrian Human Rights Watch organization pointed out that the Assad government killed at least 100,000 innocent civilians during that period and subjected many to torture. The Assad government denied these allegations, claiming that its actions were aimed at maintaining national security and preventing terrorism.

After the Syrian civil war ended, the Assad government still controlled most of Syria's territory and signed a military agreement with Russia, receiving Russian support. However, the disasters brought by the Syrian civil war are still not over, with many Syrian refugees still hiding in neighboring countries, waiting for the refugee crisis to end.

The Syrian human rights organization welcomed the Criminal Court's verdict, hoping it would be a major check on the Assad government's human rights abuses. However, the Syrian government denied this, calling it foreign interference in Syria's internal affairs.

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After the Syrian civil war ended, the Syrian government still controlled most of Syria's territory and signed a military agreement with Russia. This means that Syria remains an important country in the Middle East. The Syrian government did not punish the Assad government for its human rights abuses but instead protested the verdict against Bashar al-Assad's brother, indicating that the Syrian government is still under the control of the Assad family. This also reflects the uncertain political landscape in Syria, which still poses a challenge to regional stability and human rights development.