Damascus, Aug. 11 (SANA)Syrian officials and legal experts said the verdict issued againstAtef Najibby theFourth Criminal Courtin Damascus represents an important step in the accountability process, stressing the importance of justice, victims’ rights and adherence to legal procedures.Minister of InteriorAnas Khattabsaid justice had prevailed for victims of crimes and violations committed against Syrians, describing the issuance of the first death sentences against those responsible for such crimes as a historic step toward achieving justice and holding perpetrators accountable.Khattab affirmed that authorities would continue pursuing all those involved in these crimes until they receive their just punishment.The head of the Central Agency for Control and Inspection, Amer al-Ali, said the death sentences issued against Bashar al-Assad, Atef Najib and seven other fugitives represent justice for victims and their families and a message that the suffering and deaths of Syrians have not been forgotten.In a post on the X platform, al-Ali said the sentences against Assad and Najib, who were convicted of intentional and premeditated killings and torture, represent justice for victims rather than revenge.Damascus Countryside Governor Amer al-Sheikh described the rulings as a victory for justice and recognition of victims’ rights, saying anyone responsible for crimes against Syrians would face accountability.

Syrian legal experts and lawyers specializing in international criminal law andtransitional justicesaid proceedings before the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus involving figures of the former regime reflect commitment to legal procedures, transparency and fair-trial standards.Ahmed al-Qurbi, director of the Syrian Dialogue Center and a public law specialist, told SANA that the court’s adherence to procedural rules under Syria’s Code of Criminal Procedure safeguards the right to defense and transparency.He said Syrian law broadly provides guarantees related to public hearings and allows defendants and their lawyers to challenge evidence, respond to allegations and call witnesses.Al-Qurbi said the court’s decision in some cases to withhold witnesses’ names to protect them is consistent with international practices, including those applied in some European courts, and aims to protect parties involved and ensure justice.Almoutassim Billah al-Kilani, a researcher specializing ininternational lawandhuman rights, said the trials show positive indicators regarding compliance with fair-trial requirements, citing defendants’ appearance before the court accompanied by their lawyers and the public nature of hearings.He added that procedures related to absent defendants and closed hearings for certain witnesses were conducted in line with legal safeguards and international standards when necessary to protect privacy or safety.Ayman Abu Hashem, a lawyer and researcher specializing in transitional justice, said reliance on the Code of Criminal Procedure has helped regulate proceedings and maintain a balance between prosecution evidence and defendants’ rights to defense.He said handling procedural requests and hearing substantive defenses without unnecessary delays reflects effective case management, while evidence and witness testimony have helped the court form its judicial conclusions.Radif Mustafa, head of the Accountability and Justice Department at the National Authority for Transitional Justice, told SANA that the verdict against Atef Najib represents a pivotal milestone in accountability for grave crimes after the case completed all judicial stages and procedures required by law.Mustafa said grave crimes cannot be erased by political circumstances and must be addressed through the judiciary and the rule of law while ensuring the rights of all parties and guarantees of a fair trial.He described the ruling as an important step rather than the end of the process, noting that other cases remain under follow-up and several trials have reached advanced stages.“Justice is not based on revenge, but on truth, law, accountability and fairness,” Mustafa said.The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus sentenced Atef Najib, Bashar al-Assad and seven other fugitives — Maher al-Assad, Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Mohammad Ayman Ayoush, Louay Ali al-Ali, Qusay Ibrahim Mahyoub, Wafiq Saleh Nasser and Talal Fares al-Aysami — to death.RD/MF