Damascus court opens first trial session of former Syrian Grand Mufti
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus on Thursday held the first trial session of former Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun, in a case tied to his role during the rule of the former Syrian government.
The hearing was attended by Syria’s Attorney General, Judge Hassan al-Turba, as well as representatives of local and international human rights organizations.
The court panel was headed by Judge Fakhr al-Din Mustafa al-Aryan, with judges Abdul Hamid al-Hammoud and Hossam Abdulrahman serving as advisers, while Judge Omar Mahmoud al-Radi represented the public prosecution.
Hassoun was arrested by Syria’s Internal Security Forces in March 2025 over files linked to his work during previous years, though authorities have not publicly detailed the full scope of the charges in the current proceedings.
The session comes amid a series of ongoing trials in Damascus involving officials and figures associated with the former government.
On Wednesday, the same court held the first hearing in the trial of Wassim al-Assad over cases related to multiple violations committed against civilians during the past period.
The Fourth Criminal Court is also continuing to examine the case of Atef Najib, the former head of Political Security Branch in Daraa, who is accused of committing violations and crimes against Syrians.
Two days ago, the court held the fourth session of his trial in the presence of representatives from human rights and international organizations.
One of Najib’s previous sessions was dedicated to hearing testimony from public witnesses in a closed-door hearing as part of the ongoing judicial process.
These trials are part of what Syrian authorities describe as a broader judicial track aimed at advancing transitional justice, prosecuting those accused of crimes committed over the past years, documenting violations, and delivering justice to victims through formal legal procedures.