Damascus court sets second session in trial of former regime figures

Atif Najib, cousin of Bashar al-Assad, stands behind the bars in the courtroom during his trial at the Fourth Criminal Court in the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria, on April 26, 2026. – North Press
Atif Najib, cousin of Bashar al-Assad, stands behind the bars in the courtroom during his trial at the Fourth Criminal Court in the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria, on April 26, 2026. – North Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Damascus Criminal Court on Sunday set a date for the second session in the trial of former regime figures, including Atif Najib, following the conclusion of the opening hearing held as part of Syria’s transitional justice process.

Najib appeared in court during the first session, alongside other defendants who remain at large, in what marks one of the first judicial proceedings tied to alleged violations committed during the years of former president Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

The case file includes prominent former officials, among them Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, and Najib, over accusations related to violations and crimes committed during the uprising period.

The court adjourned the session and scheduled the next hearing for Sunday, May 10.

By Taysir Mohammed