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Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, President of the Fourth Criminal Court in Syria, confirmed Thursday that in absentia rulings issued against ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and several former senior officials carry immediate legal consequences, noting that the judgment files have been transmitted to Interpol to initiate international law enforcement procedures.
​Speaking on Thursday, al-Aryan explained that the Fourth Criminal Court, which specializes in transitional justice cases, operates under the Syrian judicial system and the Supreme Judicial Council. Staffed by Syrian judges and enforcing domestic law, he emphasized that it is neither a special nor an extraordinary tribunal.
​He stated that the court has ruled on four prominent cases involving gross human rights violations and is actively processing approximately 61 additional cases under established legal frameworks.
​In Absentia Sentences and Retrial Guarantees
​Al-Aryan clarified that issuing sentences in absentia ensures the continuity of legal proceedings and prevents delays in justice. He noted, however, that such sentences are not final; full retrials leading to in-person judgments will occur automatically upon the arrest or surrender of the convicted individuals.
​Regarding the sentence handed to Bashar al-Assad, al-Aryan pointed out that the ruling was grounded in evidence establishing command responsibility along the chain of authority, rather than solely on his former office as President of the Republic.
​He noted that the destruction and concealment of documents prior to the former regime's fall present ongoing challenges for the court, particularly concerning cases of missing persons and determining the fate of detainees as families continue seeking answers.
​Witness Protection and Victim Redress
​Al-Aryan affirmed that the court enforces measures to safeguard witnesses and evidence for both prosecution and defense sides. He cited a recent decision in the case of Atef Najib, where the court accommodated requests to hear protected witnesses identified exclusively by confidential codes.
​Furthermore, the court ordered the confiscation of assets belonging to the convicted individuals, depositing the funds into a dedicated account until a formal restitution fund is established to guarantee financial redress for victims who were unable to participate directly in proceedings or file civil claims.
​Al-Aryan reiterated the continuation of the transitional justice process, emphasizing the imperative to uphold the legal rights of both defendants and victims while pursuing accountability for human rights abuses through judicial channels.
​The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus recently issued rulings against several former regime officials, including Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, and prominent military, security, political, and religious figures.
​Sentences ranged from life imprisonment to the death penalty, encompassing in-person verdicts against Atef Najib, Wassim al-Assad, and Ahmad Hassoun, alongside in absentia rulings against defendants residing outside the country.
​Source: Rum News Agency