Syrian Court Sentences Former Grand Mufti to Life Imprisonment in Landmark Post-Assad Trial

DAMASCUS, Syria – In a significant ruling marking a new chapter in Syria's quest for accountability, a Damascus court on Monday sentenced Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun, the nation's former Grand Mufti and a staunch ally of the deposed Bashar al-Assad regime, to life in prison. The verdict against the 77-year-old cleric, once the highest Sunni religious authority in the country, culminates a high-profile trial on charges including incitement to violence, complicity in homicide, and exploiting his influential position to legitimize the former government's brutal crackdown on dissent. This judgment underscores the transitional government's expanding efforts to prosecute figures from the Assad era, moving beyond military and security officials to hold ideologues accountable for their roles in the devastating civil war.

The Verdict and the Weight of Charges

The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus delivered the life sentence against Hassoun, simultaneously ordering the confiscation of his movable assets. Hassoun faced a raft of severe charges, including "inciting civil war and sectarian strife," "incitement to intentional homicide," and "principal complicity in intentional homicide." Prosecutors had initially sought the death penalty for the former Grand Mufti, reflecting the gravity of the accusations. The court found that Hassoun had abused his office to provide religious and political legitimacy for the Assad regime's actions, encouraging a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters and publicly supporting officers implicated in war crimes. Evidence presented during the trial reportedly included his institutional role in legitimizing violence, with prosecutors detailing addresses he delivered to military and security personnel urging support for regime operations and public statements inciting violence against civilians.

The "Mufti of the Barrel Bombs": Hassoun's Role Under Assad

Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun served as Syria's Grand Mufti from 2005 until 2021, a 16-year tenure during which he became inextricably linked with the Assad regime. Born in Aleppo in 1949, Hassoun, whose father was also a prominent sheikh, held considerable influence and frequently appeared alongside Bashar al-Assad at official and religious events. Following the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in 2011, Hassoun emerged as one of the regime's most vocal religious defenders, consistently echoing the government's narrative that the protests were acts of "sabotage" carried out by "terrorists" and "armed cells" backed by foreign powers. His fervent support earned him the moniker "mufti of the barrel bombs," a stark reference to the indiscriminate aerial attacks employed by government forces. He is also accused of using his position to provide religious cover for large-scale attacks on civilians, including a televised intervention in 2015 where he reportedly urged regime forces to bomb neighborhoods containing opposition elements. Furthermore, Hassoun publicly endorsed the intervention of Russia and Iran in the Syrian civil war, describing them as "helpers, not occupiers," and aligning himself with Iranian leadership narratives. Reports also allege his involvement in approving execution warrants for detainees at Saydnaya Prison, a facility notorious for its human rights abuses. Hassoun's pronouncements also extended to condemning Syrian refugees, accusing those who fled the conflict of "betraying the nation" and calling for legal action against them.

A Broader Reckoning: Post-Assad Justice

Hassoun's sentencing marks a critical development in the ongoing efforts by the new Syrian government, led by President Ahmad Al Shara, to bring to justice officials associated with the former regime. His conviction makes him the tenth high-ranking Assad-era figure to be sentenced under the new authorities since the fall of the Assad government in December 2024. These trials signify a clear shift in Syria's political landscape and a concerted push towards transitional justice. Earlier this month, the judiciary issued death sentences in absentia against former President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher, and five other security officials for atrocities committed during the civil war. Two cousins of the former ruler, Atif Najib and Wassim al-Assad, have also received death sentences after being tried in person. Hassoun's prosecution is particularly noteworthy as it expands the scope of accountability beyond those directly involved in military and security operations to include influential religious and political figures who provided ideological backing for the former regime's actions. This broader approach aims to hold "non-executing actors" accountable for providing the political and religious cover that enabled systemic violations. Hassoun himself was arrested in March 2025 at Damascus International Airport while allegedly attempting to flee the country for medical treatment, indicating the new government's resolve to prevent former officials from evading justice. The Syrian judicial system, a blend of Ottoman, French, and Islamic legal traditions, is now tasked with navigating a complex array of cases related to the 2011-2024 conflict.

A Figure of Contradictions

The image of Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun has long been complex, marked by both his unwavering loyalty to the Assad regime and, at times, a more nuanced public persona. Before and during the early stages of the conflict, some reports highlighted his involvement in promoting interfaith dialogue and rapprochement between Islamic schools of thought, and his academic background, including a Ph.D. from Al-Azhar University. He reportedly opposed the formation of religious political parties and even called for the Syrian regime to change in 2012, stating, "whether the Syrian regime wishes it or not, it must change, because the whole world is changing." However, these aspects starkly contrast with the court's findings and his widely publicized role in justifying the regime's actions. This duality underscores the profound pressures and transformations that gripped Syrian society and its leadership during the conflict. His arrest and subsequent trial, nearly two years after the fall of the regime, highlight the enduring political and social divisions within Syria and the difficult path towards reconciliation and justice.

Conclusion

The life sentence handed to former Grand Mufti Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun represents a powerful symbol of the new Syrian government's commitment to addressing the legacy of the Assad era. As the tenth high-profile figure to be sentenced, Hassoun's conviction for incitement and complicity in violence sends a clear message that accountability will extend to those who provided intellectual and religious legitimization for the previous regime's policies. While human rights organizations have raised concerns regarding the death sentences issued in other cases, this life imprisonment verdict against a prominent religious leader marks a significant development in the broader effort to establish justice for the millions affected by Syria's prolonged conflict. The trials are a testament to the difficult and often contradictory process of transitional justice in a country grappling with a fractured past and an uncertain future.