Inside the Trial of Atef Najib et al. #8: Closing Arguments

TRIAL OF ATEF NAJIB ET AL. 

The Fourth Criminal Court – Damascus, Syria 

Trial Monitoring Summary #8 

Hearing Date: August 4, 2026 

CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other violent acts. 

Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it is merely an unofficial summary of the proceedings. 

Throughout this summary, [information located in brackets are notes from our trial monitor] and “information placed in quotes are statements made by the witness, Judges or counsel.” The names and identifying information of witnesses have been redacted. 

[Note: SJAC provides a summary of the proceedings while redacting certain details to protect witness privacy and to preserve the integrity of the trial.]

SJAC’s 8th trial monitoring report details day 8 of the trial of Atef Najib et al. in Damascus, Syria. On this trial day, the Prosecutor, the Plaintiffs’ Counsel, Defense Counsel, and the Accused delivered their closing statements before the Court.

Both the Prosecution and the Plaintiffs’ Counsel requested the death penalty for the Accused Atef Najib. The Defense Counsel requested that justice be served and that the Court distinguish between rumors and verified facts. The Accused concluded by claiming that the detained children were released from the branch as soon as their parents arrived to collect them, adding that he seeks justice and fairness from the Court.

Day 8 – August 4, 2026 

[Note: Media coverage was restricted to the media outlets of the Ministry of Justice only.]

The Accused, Atef Najib, was brought into the courtroom at 10:55AM. The Judges followed at 11:00AM, when the hearing of witnesses commenced. This constitutes the eighth session in Case No. (1) of 2026 against the Accused, Atef Najib.

The Accused Atef Najib appeared before the court, accompanied by his representative, Defense Counsel C1 [redacted name].

State Attorney Ali Ghandoor attended, representing the State Disputes Authority.

The Plaintiff party was present.

The in-person and in-absentia trial proceedings commenced publicly.

The Presiding Judge requested that the Prosecutor present the Prosecution's closing argument.

The Public Prosecution demanded the imposition of the maximum penalties and the death sentence for each of the following Accused:

• Atef Najib
• Bashar Al-Assad
• Maher Al-Assad
• Mohammad Ayman Ayyoush
• Lo’ay Al-Ali
• Qusay Mahyoub
• Wafiq Naser
• Talal Al-Usaymi

This request was made for their brutal crimes that claimed innocent lives, all of which was proven through witness testimonies, documents, and evidence. It was established that the Accused was in command of the Political Security Branch and held absolute authority over all security branches. All evidence proved that the Accused was the one issuing orders to open fire on demonstrators, resulting in injuries and hundreds of martyrs. The matter was not limited to violations and assaults, but also led to sectarian strife, sowing discord among the people, and destabilizing civil peace.

These instructions and directives originated from [former] President of the Republic Bashar Al-Assad, the Minister of Defense, the heads of security branches, and the absconding Accused. These actions were not confined to individuals alone, but also extended to the abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, and damage to societal interests.

Justice is not built on official titles, but relies on evidence and the law to a degree sufficient to prove the responsibility of the [present] Accused and the absconding Accused for the crimes attributed to them. The evidence presented was complete and comprehensive in establishing their crimes and violations.

The Public Prosecution is the voice of truth and the faithful guardian of blood, rights, dignity, and sacred sanctuaries. It demands justice, undeterred from the truth by any authority or influence.

Accordingly, we request that the honorable Court convict the [present] Accused and the Accused absconding from justice, and impose upon them the maximum penalty,  namely, the death sentence.

Following the statement of the Public Prosecution, the Presiding Judge requested to hear the Plaintiff Party.

The Plaintiffs’ Counsel put forward the following demands:

The imposition of the maximum penalty — namely, execution — upon the Accused Atef Najib and all the absconding Accused, and the consolidation of transitional justice to serve as a beacon for all people. It was established through conclusive evidence that the Accused committed various types of crimes against humanity and war crimes on Syrian territory. Furthermore, witness testimonies proved beyond doubt his commission of diverse crimes, along with systematic and brutal torture against minors.

On this day, the Plaintiff Party submitted this memorandum, praying for the conviction of the Accused Atef Najib and his absconding accomplices for crimes against humanity, deprivation of liberty, the felony of premeditated and intentional murder of multiple individuals, intentional murder of children under fifteen years of age, the felony of incitement to murder, and torture leading to death, as well as the imposition of the maximum penalty — namely, the death sentence — upon him and his accomplices absconding from justice, so that they may serve as a deterrent before your honorable Court and before transitional courts in Syria.

Thereafter, the State Attorney, Mr. Ali Ghandour, representing the State Disputes Authority, submitted to the Judges panel a two-page memorandum annexed by an electronic file.

Defense Counsel C1 submitted a defense memorandum to the Judges panel containing the following:

We stand today in the sanctuary of Syrian justice. The crimes and violations cannot be decoupled from the 2011 Syrian Revolution born out of the heart of Dar’a. This revolution was a legitimate uprising seeking freedom, justice, and the redress of grievance. In this context, and in the face of the violations endured by the people, transitional justice, fair judiciary, and the vindication of rights have arrived to place this twelve-page defense memorandum before the Court, which distinguishes between rumors and the established facts before the Court.

The Presiding Judge asked the Accused Atef Najib whether he wished to add any final statements.

The Accused responded that there were two incidents prior to March 18, 2011:

The first pertained to the children: certain boys wrote slogans on the wall, were spotted by personnel from the Political Security Branch, and were taken to the branch. The head of interrogation was asked to take their statements, and the branch head requested that the boys' families be brought, whereupon they took the boys and left the branch.

The second incident pertained to the individual who broke the statue of Hafez Al-Assad: two personnel from the branch spotted him and brought him to the branch. His family was requested to attend. During that time, his family was searching for him because he was ill. A Warrant Officer 3rd Class in the area identified him. His family arrived at the branch, stated that he was mentally impaired, and he was released.

The Presiding Judge wanted to know whether the detainee was subjected to torture when he was in  the branch, which the Accused denied.

The Presiding Judge asked the Accused whether he had any other statements or requests. The Accused replied that he sought justice and fairness from the honorable Court.

The Court decided to adjourn the session.

The proceedings were adjourned at 11:20AM.  

The next trial day will be on August 4, 2026, at 11AM.

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