Damascus, May 11 (V7N)- Atef Najib, cousin of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has appeared in court for the second time as his trial continues over multiple serious allegations of human rights violations.

According to reports from the Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency and Syrian state media SANA, the hearing was held at the Damascus Criminal Court on Sunday and was attended by victims’ families, members of the Transitional Justice Commission, and representatives of international organizations.

State television reported that Najib faces a formal indictment on charges including premeditated murder, causing death through torture of children, armed assaults, illegal detention, and money laundering.

Prosecutors allege that he directly ordered killings and torture through intimidation and blackmail, and played a key role in widespread repression during Syria’s early uprising period.

Najib was first arrested in January last year, and previously appeared in court on April 26. The date for his next hearing has not yet been announced.

He is accused of being involved in the crackdown in the southern city of Daraa during the early stages of the 2011 uprising, including the arrest and torture of children who wrote anti-government slogans on school walls.

One of the most symbolic cases linked to the trial is the death of 13-year-old Hamza al-Khatib, whose image was shown during Najib’s first court appearance. The boy’s death became a powerful symbol of the early Syrian uprising.

The case traces back to March 2011, when teenagers in Daraa wrote anti-government slogans on school walls during the wave of Arab Spring protests.

Meanwhile, Syria has undergone major political changes since the fall of Assad’s long rule. On December 8, 2024, Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after nearly 25 years in power. A transitional administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa formed a new government in January 2025.

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