Syria’s Public Prosecution requested the death penalty for defendant Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
The prosecution based its request on evidence and witness testimony supporting charges of premeditated murder, drug trafficking and promotion, and offenses against national security and civil peace, according to information published by the National Commission for Transitional Justice on Wednesday, July 22.
The defense and the defendant repeated their previous statements. Al-Assad denied the charges against him and requested clemency and justice.
The Fourth Criminal Court adjourned the trial until July 29 to review the case and issue its ruling.
The court held the third hearing in Wassim al-Assad’s trial at the Palace of Justice in Damascus.
The Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA, reported that the hearing was held behind closed doors and was dedicated to hearing prosecution witnesses. The witnesses gave their statements before the court in the defendant’s presence as part of the judicial evidentiary proceedings.
Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan presided over the hearing. Judicial advisers Abdul Hamid Mohammad al-Hammoud and Hossam Hussein Abdul Rahman also took part, alongside Public Prosecution representative Judge Omar Mahmoud al-Radi.
The Fourth Criminal Court held the first hearing in Wassim al-Assad’s trial on June 24, when Judge al-Aryan read the indictment against the defendant.
The second hearing was held on July 15 and was dedicated to hearing prosecution witnesses and presenting documents, photographs, and video recordings.
Wassim al-Assad faces several charges, including forming armed militias affiliated with the Fourth Division under the former regime and trafficking drugs.
Part of the Transitional Justice Process
Wassim al-Assad’s trial is part of the transitional justice process aimed at holding individuals and prominent figures from the former Syrian regime accountable.
The leading cases include those of Wassim al-Assad, Atef Najib, the former head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa (southern Syria), whose actions are accused of helping ignite the Syrian uprising, and Ahmed Badr al-Din Hassoun, who served as Syria’s grand mufti under the former regime.
The Ministry of Justice affirmed that the trials would continue in accordance with established legal and judicial safeguards to uphold justice and the rule of law.
Human Rights Report Assesses First Two Hearings in Atef Najib Trial
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