Major Flaws in the Trial Against Atef Najib
Damascus, Syria: August 11, 2026
“The conviction of Atef Najib is a historical step in Syria’s transitional period, but it has exposed major flaws in the justice system which likely jeopardized his right to a fair trial,” said the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) after Atef Najib was found guilty and sentenced to death for multiple crimes against humanity and war crimes, which included intentional murder, murder of children under the age of 15, torture leading to death, and deprivation of liberty.
SJAC’s trial monitoring team attended Atef Najib’s trial and documented multiple issues in the trial and final ruling. “Atef Najib’s case was marked by rushed proceedings and witness testimony that did not connect Atef to the crimes he was charged with,” said SJAC, adding “Atef Najib’s lawyer, who could potentially face risks to his safety and professional reputation, lacked the capacity and willingness to meaningfully engage with the case or mount an adequate defense.”
Most charges against Najib relate to his time as head of Political Security in Daraa in 2011, when his forces tortured and killed several children accused of creating anti-Assad graffiti. The following nationwide protests and brutal crackdown by the Assad government are often marked as the start of the Syrian conflict.
“This was the first trial of an Assad affiliate, unfortunately, the lack of evidence collection and rushed witness testimony failed to accurately expose the crimes committed by Atef Najib,” said Mohammad Al Abdallah, Executive Director of the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, “trials against Assad officials should uncover the truth about the atrocities they committed, while also being fair and impartial. Atef Najib did not receive a fair trial, and the Syrian people were denied the truth behind the crimes that ignited the conflict.”
SJAC will provide a full analysis of this trial and the trial of Wissam Al-Assad here, in the coming weeks.
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The Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) is a human rights organization committed to achieving meaningful justice for the Syrian people, enabling Syrians to reckon with and move past a legacy of authoritarian violence and build an open, peaceful, and democratic society.
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