Damascus, Aug. 11 (SANA)A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced head of the ousted regime Bashar al-Assad and several former officials to death after convicting them of crimes including premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity.

The hearing was presided over byJudge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, with the participation of Adviser to the Republic Public Prosecutor Judge Hassan al-Turba, Head of the National Commission forTransitional JusticeAbdul Basit Abdul Latif and members of the commission. Representatives of international legal and humanitarian organizations, along with families of victims, attended the session.

Al-Aryan said the court convicted Assad of crimes against humanity and other offenses, citing his position as the highest decision-maker and his role in directing state institutions involved in the violations.

The court also sentenced Atef Najib to death, Al-Aryan said.

Najib, a cousin of al-Assad, previously served as the political security chief in Syria’s Daraa city.

The judge further announced death sentences against fugitives Maher Hafez al-Assad, Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Mohammad Ayman Ayoush, Louay Ali al-Ali, Qusay Ibrahim Mahyoub, Wafiq Saleh Nasser and Talal Fares al-Aysami.

Al-Aryan said the court convicted the defendants of premeditated and intentional murder as well as torture resulting in death.

Head of the National Commission for Transitional Justice Abdul Basit Abdul Latif said that the ruling in the Atef Najib case was delivered, describing it as an important step toward justice, redressing victims’ rights and upholding the rule of law.