Ahmed Hassoun, Syria's former Grand Mufti, along with ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Syria hands life sentence to former 'barrel bomb Mufti'
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Damascus court jails Ahmed Hassoun for life.
- Former Syrian grand mufti convicted of inciting sectarian strife.
- Hassoun sentenced over legitimizing Assad-era atrocities.
- Assad-era cleric becomes 10th figure sentenced under new authorities.
The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus sentenced Ahmed Hassoun, Syria's former Grand Mufti under deposed leader Bashar al-Assad, to life imprisonment on Monday.
Hassoun, who served as Syria's highest Muslim cleric for 16 years, was convicted of inciting civil war and sectarian strife, exploiting his public position, and providing religious and moral legitimacy for crimes committed against civilians.
Judicial findings
The trial, which formally commenced on June 25, 2026, focused heavily on Hassoun's institutional role in legitimizing violence.
According to court records documented by the Syrian Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC), prosecutors presented evidence demonstrating that Hassoun delivered addresses to military and security personnel urging them to support regime operations, while making public statements that incited violence against civilians in eastern Aleppo and Idlib.
The prosecution argued that as Grand Mufti, Hassoun's symbolic and institutional authority amplified the effect of his speeches, removing moral protections for civilian populations during the conflict.
Accountability for former regime officials
Hassoun represents the 10th senior Assad-era official to be sentenced by judicial authorities following his arrest in March 2025.
Throughout his tenure, Hassoun was one of the most visible religious figures in the state apparatus, frequently appearing alongside Assad at official functions and defending government policies domestically and internationally.
Monday's ruling concludes a trial that drew significant attention across legal and human rights communities for establishing accountability regarding non-executing actors who provided political and religious cover for systemic violations.
