Atef Najib: The Syrian security chief sentenced to death alongside Assad

Who is Atef Najib?

Atef Najib is a former senior Syrian security official and a cousin of ousted president Bashar al-Assad. He served as head of the Political Security Directorate in Daraa, the southern city where the 2011 uprising began.

Najib was notorious for his role in the brutal suppression of protests. His actions, including the arrest and torture of teenagers who painted anti-government graffiti, are widely seen as the spark that ignited the nationwide revolt.

He is also the brother of Rami Makhlouf, a once-powerful businessman and cousin of Assad, who fell from grace in recent years amid a power struggle within the ruling elite.

The sentence

A Syrian court has sentenced Najib to death in absentia, alongside former President Bashar al-Assad. The verdict covers crimes against humanity, including killings and torture, committed during the early years of the conflict.

The trial, conducted by a Damascus-based court, marks a symbolic step in holding the old regime accountable. However, neither Assad nor Najib is in Syrian custody; both are believed to be abroad, with Assad reportedly in Russia.

The death sentence is largely symbolic, as Syria lacks the means to extradite them. But it carries weight as a formal judicial condemnation of the regime's actions.

Role in the 2011 crackdown

In March 2011, Najib ordered the arrest of a group of teenagers in Daraa who had scrawled revolutionary slogans on a wall. Their detention and alleged torture triggered mass demonstrations that spread across the country.

Najib's security forces responded with live fire, killing protesters and escalating the unrest into a full-blown civil war. His name became synonymous with the regime's ruthless tactics.

He was later appointed to other security posts but remained a shadowy figure, rarely seen in public. His whereabouts after the fall of Assad's government in late 2024 remain unclear.

International reaction

The sentencing has drawn attention from global media, with outlets like Al Jazeera, CNN, and the BBC covering the development. Human rights groups have long called for accountability for Syrian officials involved in war crimes.

However, the trial's legitimacy is contested. Critics note that it was conducted by a court operating under a government that itself faces accusations of atrocities. The verdict is unlikely to lead to immediate arrests or extradition.

For many Syrians, the sentence is a moral victory. For others, it is a reminder that justice remains elusive for the hundreds of thousands killed during the conflict.

What happens next

The Syrian government is expected to issue international arrest warrants through Interpol, though its effectiveness is doubtful. The verdict may also pressure other countries to pursue legal action against Assad and his associates under universal jurisdiction.

Watch for any movement in Russia's stance on Assad, as Moscow has so far shielded him from international tribunals. The death sentence, while unenforceable, keeps the spotlight on Syria's unresolved quest for justice.