A Damascus court handed former Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun a life sentence for inciting violence and justifying murders under Bashar al‑Assad's rule. The ruling deepens Syria's reckoning with the Assad era while raising questions about trial fairness.

  • Ahmad Hassoun receives life imprisonment
  • Convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder
  • Part of a wider wave of trials against Assad‑era officials

Damascus’ Fourth Criminal Court sentenced former Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun to life in prison, finding him guilty of inciting violence and legitimising the use of barrel bombs that targeted civilian areas during Bashar al‑Assad’s regime.

Hassoun served as Syria’s Grand Mufti from 2005 until the post was abolished in 2021. He was in custody and present in court when the verdict was delivered.

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Judge Fakhreddine al‑Aryan stated that the official religious establishment under Assad had “justified the use of barrel bombs that caused widespread destruction, constituting a violation of international humanitarian law.”

The Syrian civil war, sparked by massive anti‑government protests in 2011, lasted nearly 14 years, killing roughly half a million people and displacing more than half of the pre‑war population of 23 million.

Assad’s ouster came in December 2024 after a rapid offensive by Islamist‑led insurgents. Hassoun’s life sentence adds to a series of high‑profile convictions, including death sentences handed to Assad and his brother Maher, many in absentia.

Human‑rights groups warn the trials are rushed and may lack due process, yet many Syrians welcome the verdicts, seeing them as overdue accountability for the former regime’s crimes.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this ruling sends a clear signal that religious figures who enabled war crimes will not escape prosecution, reinforcing international norms against the misuse of religious authority in conflict.

"The abuse of religious authority to legitimize atrocities is a grave breach of international law, and this sentence sets a precedent for future accountability," said international law scholar Prof. Linda Carter.
Did You Know?: The Grand Mufti position was eliminated in 2021 as part of constitutional reforms, marking the end of an institution that had existed for decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can Hassoun appeal his sentence in an international court?

A: While he can appeal within Syria’s judicial system, taking the case to an international tribunal would be legally complex and time‑consuming.

Q2: How might this verdict affect Syria’s reconstruction efforts?

A: The decision may bolster social cohesion by delivering justice to victims, but it does not resolve the broader economic and infrastructural challenges facing post‑war Syria.