A criminal court in Damascus has opened the first trial session of Wassim al Assad, a cousin of former Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad, on charges including drug trafficking and involvement in crimes committed during the previous government’s rule.
According to the state-run SANA news agency on Wednesday, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus held its first hearing in the case and heard testimony from witnesses.
Wassim al Assad, 46, has long been accused of playing a role in the production and smuggling of Captagon across the region during the rule of the former regime. He is also under US and European sanctions.
High-profile case
Syrian authorities arrested Wassim al Assad on June 21, 2025, as part of a wider campaign targeting individuals accused of crimes committed under the former regime.
The trial is among the most prominent legal proceedings launched since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and is being closely watched as a test of Syria’s efforts to pursue accountability.
Transitional justice push
SANA also reported that former Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
According to Justice Ministry Media and Communications Director Baraa Abdul Rahman, Hassoun faces charges linked to religious rulings that incited violence against Syrians during the popular uprising that began in 2011.
Abdul Rahman said that proceedings against both defendants are being conducted in accordance with legal standards to ensure justice for victims while upholding judicial independence and the rule of law.
The hearings form part of a broader transitional justice process launched after Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in December 2024, ending more than six decades of Baath Party rule in Syria.
A transitional administration headed by President Ahmad al Sharaa was established in January 2025.
