A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Bashar Assad, his younger brother Maher Assad and maternal cousin Atef Najib to death in absentia over crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Syria's 14-year conflict, which left about half a million people dead.
The verdict, delivered by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, is the first against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family's five-decade rule ended 20 months ago.
