Former Syrian grand mufti Ahmed Badr Al-Din Hassoun sentenced to life

A Syrian court on Monday handed a life sentence to former grand mufti Ahmed Badr Al-Din Hassoun after convicting him of war crimes, inciting sectarian strife, supporting military operations against civilians, and abusing his religious position during years of internal conflict, according to Agence France-Presse.

During sessions at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, witnesses testified and prosecutors argued for the maximum penalty, previously calling for the death sentence.

Details of the court ruling

The court found that the former mufti’s statements contributed to justifying killings, fueling civil strife, and violating the rights of residents in areas outside the control of the former Syrian regime.

Hassoun is the tenth senior official to be convicted by transitional judicial authorities. He served as grand mufti for over sixteen years and was a close associate of former president Bashar Assad.

Ongoing accountability for former regime figures

This verdict is part of ongoing efforts to hold former regime officials accountable for war crimes against the Syrian people, following previous in absentia sentences against prominent security and military leaders.