A Syrian court on Monday sentenced Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, the country’s former grand mufti under ousted President Bashar Assad, to life in prison. Hassoun, who served as Syria’s top Islamic cleric from 2005 until the position was abolished in 2021, was present in the courtroom for the ruling by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus.
Damascus Court Sentences Former Grand Mufti to Life Imprisonment
Judge Fakhreddine al-Aryan found the 77-year-old cleric guilty of a raft of crimes committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war, including inciting violence, justifying killings, abuse of office, and inciting sectarian unrest. The court handed down several specific sentences, including 20 years for inciting killings and 10 years for prolonging them. Prosecutors had demanded the death penalty.
According to the court, the official religious establishment headed by Hassoun provided religious cover for military and security operations during Assad’s rule. Judge al-Aryan stated that Hassoun’s teachings justified the use of barrel bombs targeting civilian areas, which caused widespread destruction and violated international humanitarian law. Prosecutors and court findings also noted that Hassoun urged military officers to confront the opposition, called on the army to destroy areas where shells were launched, and made public calls for civilians in eastern Aleppo and Idlib to evacuate or face displacement and killing.
The court ordered the confiscation of Hassoun’s moveable assets and properties for the benefit of the public treasury, and ruled that he is barred from any general or special amnesty given the gravity of his crimes.
Legal Proceedings and Arrest History
The trial of Hassoun began on June 25, following his arrest at Damascus Airport in March 2025 after he emerged from hiding. He appeared in court multiple times, where prosecutors presented video evidence, heard witness testimony, and took statements. One witness testified that he and his family had been extorted following his sister’s detention, paying money and goods in exchange for Hassoun’s intervention.
Hassoun is the 10th Assad-era figure to be sentenced under Syria’s new authorities following the collapse of the Assad government in December 2024, when Islamist-led insurgents launched a lightning offensive that ended the civil war. Unlike many other senior regime members tried by the transitional government, Hassoun is the first Sunni official to face trial and reportedly retains some level of popular support among supporters who argue his past statements were taken out of context.
Broader Transitional Trials and Context
The sentencing comes amid a string of high-profile trials involving senior figures from the former government. In recent weeks, Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher, and five security officials were sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Bashar al-Assad and his brother are believed to be in Russia. Additionally, the Damascus court handed death sentences to Assad’s cousins, Atif Najib and Wassim al-Assad, who were tried in person.
The trials have drawn mixed reactions. While many Syrians who previously expressed frustration over the pace of accountability have welcomed the verdicts, human rights groups have expressed concern. Critics have questioned whether the rushed trials can deliver impartial and independent justice, with human rights advocates emphasizing the need for transparent judicial systems and fair trial guarantees.
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