Event: Atef Najib

First trial of Assad-era Syrian official starts in DamascusNewsFeedSyria has begun its first public trial of former Assad-era officials, with ex-security chief Atef Najib appearing in a courtroom cage over his role in the 2011 Deraa crackdown.Published On 26 Apr 2026

Atef Najib, former head of the Political Security Branch in the Daraa area during Bashar Assad's rule, sits in the defendants' cage during a trial session at the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, April 26, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP A Syrian court conducted the first hearing on Sunday (April 26, 2026) in the trial of ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad and senior figures from his government, one of whom appeared in person.Assad and his brother Maher have fled Syria and will be tried in absentia, but one of their relatives, former security official Atef Najib, was in the dock in handcuffs. Published - April 26, 2026 10:54 pm IST