The Fourth Criminal Court in the Syrian capital of Damascus delivered a life sentence to Ahmed Hassoun, the grand mufti under the country's ousted regime, on Monday. The court found Hassoun guilty of inciting civil war and fostering sectarian strife throughout the nation.
Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, who presided over the case, announced that investigations into the former official's conduct confirmed his involvement in war crimes and various crimes against humanity. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the total confiscation of all assets held by Hassoun, directing that the funds be transferred to the public treasury.
The legal proceedings followed the arrest of Hassoun in March 2025, when he was apprehended by Syrian authorities while attempting to depart the country. The arrest was executed in accordance with a warrant previously issued against him. These actions are part of the broader efforts by the transitional administration, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa since taking office in January 2025, to implement accountability and transitional justice mechanisms following the overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024.
