Syrias Trial of Assad and Former Officials Raises Questions About Justice

Former Judge Al-Aryan Presides Over Trial of Atef Najib, Cousin of Former President al-Assad

On Sunday, Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, a judge at Idlib’s Civil Court of Appeal, presided over the opening of the trial of Atef Najib, a cousin of former President Bashar al-Assad and former head of political security in Deraa. Najib faces charges of premeditated murder, torture leading to death, and crimes against humanity.

Al-Aryan was sentenced to death in absentia by the Syrian regime in 2013 after publicly defecting from the government. He returned to Syria’s judiciary in December 2024, following the overthrow of al-Assad’s regime. Al-Aryan was a judicial adviser during the early years of Syria’s uprising and defected in 2013 due to his concerns about the regime’s actions.

Najib is also facing trial in absentia, along with al-Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad, who fled to Russia after their overthrow. Fadel Abdulghany, founder of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, stated that Al-Aryan’s return to the bench marks a significant moment in the country’s transition towards transitional justice.

Al-Aryan worked on establishing alternative courts and handling legal cases during his time with the opposition-held judicial bodies. He was appointed as head of the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus after the fall of al-Assad’s regime. The trial of Najib is taking place in Al-Aryan’s courtroom, highlighting the transformation in his life compared to that of the man on trial.

Najib’s connection to the incident that sparked the country’s revolution, including the arrest and torture of schoolchildren, is a key reason for his trial. The trial is expected to proceed according to due process, with Al-Aryan presiding over the proceedings.

Source: Al Jazeera