Syrian court sentences Assad's nephew Wassim Assad to death

DAMASCUS, Syria — A Syrian criminal court has sentenced Wassim Assad, a nephew of former President Bashar al-Assad, to death on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The court found that Wassim Assad, a cousin of the former president, had set up irregular armed groups targeting civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta on the orders of Brigadier General Ghayath Dallah. According to the verdict, the groups carried out massacres against civilians, particularly in the town of Mulayha. The court also held Wassim Assad responsible for the kidnapping and killing of numerous civilians across several Syrian regions, and found him guilty of deliberate multiple killings and torture. The ruling detailed a raid on a commercial shop in the town of Jarmana, during which the owner was abducted and his property looted because of his opposition stance toward the former regime. The same court issued death sentences last week against former President Bashar Hafez al-Assad, his brother Maher Assad and other defendants who evaded trial on crimes against humanity charges.