From exile to judge: Symbolism in Syria’s trial of Assad, former officials
The trial of Atef Najib, a former head of political security in Syria, marks a significant moment in the country's transitional justice process. Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, who defected from the Assad regime and was sentenced to death, now presides over the trial. This reversal of power dynamics symbolizes a potential shift towards the rule of law in post-Assad Syria.
- ▪Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan defected from the Assad regime in 2013 and was sentenced to death in absentia.
- ▪He returned to Syria's judiciary after the regime was overthrown in December 2024.
- ▪Atef Najib, the accused, faces serious charges including premeditated murder and crimes against humanity.
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Features|Syria's WarFrom exile to judge: Symbolism in Syria’s trial of Assad, former officialsFormerly sentenced to death, Judge al-Aryan now oversees trial, but transitional justice still far from complete.ListenListen (7 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoPeople gather in a Damascus courtroom on April 26, 2026, the first day of the trial of Atef Najib, a brigadier general and former head of the Political Security Department in Deraa during ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's rule who is accused of war crimes [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters]By Ahmed Muraisi and Mariem BahPublished On 28 Apr 202628 Apr 2026On March 13, 2013, Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, a judge at Idlib’s Civil Court of Appeal, publicly…
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