Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of toppled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is pictured after being detained at an unknown location. [Syrian Interior Ministry Telegram Page via AFP]By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 18 Aug 202618 Aug 2026
Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, has been sentenced to death after being convicted of crimes during the country’s nearly 14-year war.
The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus issued the ruling on Tuesday, finding Wassim al-Assad guilty of crimes including premeditated murder and torture.
The ruling is the latest against former Assad regime figures accused of crimes during Syria’s war. Last week, the Damascus court sentenced Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad and cousin Atef Najib to death over crimes including murder, torture and crimes against humanity.
