Damascus court sentences detained Assad's cousin to death
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- Wassim al-Assad sentenced to death in Syria.
- Assad cousin convicted of war crimes.
- Court finds him guilty of multiple murders.
- Verdict follows Bashar al-Assad death sentence.
A Syrian court on Tuesday issued a death sentence against detainee Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of long-time overthrown ruler Bashar al-Assad.
The ruling by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus follows his conviction on multiple severe criminal counts stemming from acts committed during the country's civil war.
Presiding Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan announced the verdict in court, confirming that Wassim al-Assad was convicted of multiple murders and "murder accompanied by torture and brutality... classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes," adding that "he is therefore sentenced to death."
Judicial developments
The death sentence delivered against Wassim al-Assad comes a week after the same Damascus court issued a death sentence in absentia against former President Bashar al-Assad.
Wassim al-Assad was tried in person as a detainee.
The court's findings established that his actions during the conflict constituted systemic war crimes and crimes against humanity, leading directly to the capital punishment ruling under Syrian law.
