Damascus, July 14 (SANA)The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus on Tuesday held its fifth hearing in the trial of Atef Najib, who is accused of committing crimes against the Syrian people.The session was closed to the public and dedicated entirely to hearing testimony from prosecution witnesses, in what is considered a key stage of the trial.Representatives of international and human rights organizations attended the proceedings as observers.The previous hearing, held on June 23, was also closed to the public and dedicated to hearing testimony from prosecution witnesses.Atef Najib, a former deposed regime security official, previously served as head of thePolitical Security Branch in Daraa Governorate. He faces charges linked to direct and shared command responsibility for systematic violations targeting civilians in Daraa province, including killings, torture and arbitrary detention during his tenure as head of the Political Security Branch in the province.The charges also include involvement in the suppression of peaceful protests through the use of live ammunition and excessive force, as well as accusations of mass killings and involvement in theOmari Mosque massacre.

The trial is part of broader efforts by the Syrian government to pursue accountability for violations committed during the war, document key events and support measures aimed at preventing future abuses.