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He is the latest Syrian official aligned with ousted President Bashar Assad to face trial.  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The religious cleric, who vocally supported the regime's policies, was found guilty of a raft of crimes including inciting sectarian unrest and justifying murder. Judge Fakhreddine al-Aryan said the official religious establishment under Assad had "justified the use of barrel bombs that targeted civilian areas and caused widespread destruction, which constitutes a violation of the rules of international humanitarian law."  A string of trials over civil war Hassoun is the 10th (/en/syria-sentences-bashar-assad-to-death-in-absentia/a-78316245) Assad-era figure to be sentenced under (/en/syria/t-17455138) Syria 's new authorities. Earlier this month, Assad himself and his brother Maher were sentenced to death in absentia for atrocities committed during Syria's civil war. More than half a million people were killed and millions were displaced during the war, which began in 2011 following a crackdown on anti-government protesters. It ended in December 2024 with Assad's ouster in an offensive by Islamist-led militants.  The former president fled Syria as his regime fell and is believed to be in Russia.    Assad tried in absentia as Syria charges ex-regime members To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that (https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/) supports HTML5 video    Rights groups raise concerns (/en/syria-court-charges-bashar-assads-cousin-atef-najib-with-war-crimes-amid-2011-uprising/a-77111373) Death sentences have also been handed to Bashar's cousins , Atif Najib and Wassim al-Assad, who were tried in person. The sentences have been welcomed by Syrians who had previously (/en/syria-war-criminals-justice-bashar-assad/a-73095218) criticized the new government for not moving fast enough to act against Assad-era officials. But human rights groups have voiced concerns that the trials are being rushed and may not be fair. "Advancing justice for the litany of serious crimes committed in Syria requires more than just convictions, but building a system that can deliver competent, impartial, and independent justice," said Balkees Jarrah, the Middle East and North Africa director for Human Rights Watch.    Back to Yarmouk: A Syrian family rebuilds and seeks justice  (ENGLISH) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that (https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/) supports HTML5 video    Who is Ahmad Hassoun? Hassoun, 77, held the position of Syria's top Islamic cleric from 2005 until 2021, when the position was abolished. An Aleppo native, he was known for his close ties to Assad and was often seen at his side on religious occasions. He was arrested at Damascus Airport in March last year while trying to flee the country.    Syrians still wait for rebuilding one year after Assad To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that (https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/) supports HTML5 video    Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to  (https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqHggKIhhDQklTREFnTWFnZ0tCbVIzTG1OdmJTZ0FQAQ?ceid=US:en&oc=3) (External link — select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here) select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here   and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.   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(Diggers are used by rescue teams working to remove the rubble from a building previously hit by the Israeli army, in the southern Lebanese village of Hanaouay on April 22, 2026.) (Diggers are used by rescue teams working to remove the rubble from a building previously hit by the Israeli army, in the southern Lebanese village of Hanaouay on April 22, 2026.)     (/en/israel-in-lebanon-is-the-security-buffer-zone-legal/a-76971183) Israel in Lebanon: Is the 'security buffer zone' legal?   (/en/israel-in-lebanon-is-the-security-buffer-zone-legal/a-76971183) Buffer zones occupy a grey area in international humanitarian law, as rules around them are not particularly clear.    Law and Justice 04/29/2026 April 29, 2026      (/en/assad-tried-in-absentia-as-syria-charges-ex-regime-members/video-76957097) (Assad tried in absentia as Syria charges ex-regime members) (Atef Najib, a man with a shaved head wearing a white and black striped prisoner's outfit, sits in the defendants' cage during a trial session at the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria)  (Atef Najib, a man with a shaved head wearing a white and black striped prisoner's outfit, sits in the defendants' cage during a trial session at the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria) (Atef Najib, a man with a shaved head wearing a white and black striped prisoner's outfit, sits in the defendants' cage during a trial session at the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria)     (/en/assad-tried-in-absentia-as-syria-charges-ex-regime-members/video-76957097)    Assad tried in absentia as Syria charges ex-regime members  (/en/assad-tried-in-absentia-as-syria-charges-ex-regime-members/video-76957097) Former autocratic leader Bashar Assad and other figures face charges over brutal crackdowns and the 14-year civil war.   Law and Justice 04/27/2026 April 27, 2026  02:04 min     (/en/israeli-settlers-eye-homes-of-east-jerusalem-palestinians/video-75802461) (Israeli settlers eye homes of East Jerusalem Palestinians) (A man who lives in east Jerusalem with his family stands on the terrace of his house)  (A man who lives in east Jerusalem with his family stands on the terrace of his house) (A man who lives in east Jerusalem with his family stands on the terrace of his house)     (/en/israeli-settlers-eye-homes-of-east-jerusalem-palestinians/video-75802461)    Israeli settlers eye homes of East Jerusalem Palestinians  (/en/israeli-settlers-eye-homes-of-east-jerusalem-palestinians/video-75802461) Israeli settlers, fully backed by the state and courts, are waiting to move in to the homes of Palestinian families.   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