Assad-era’s grand mufti sentenced to life in prison by court in Damascus

Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, Syria's former grand mufti under ousted President Bashar Assad, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, August 24, 2026, by a court in Damascus. Hassoun, who served from 2005 to 2021, was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder. The court cited his role in justifying the use of barrel bombs on civilian areas, which violated international humanitarian law. This sentencing is part of a series of trials against Assad-era officials, with several, including Assad himself, having received death sentences recently. While some human rights groups have raised concerns about the fairness of these trials, many Syrians have welcomed the swift prosecution of former regime figures following the end of the civil war.

Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Syria's former grand mufti, has been sentenced to life in prison by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus. The ruling, issued on Monday, found Hassoun guilty of inciting hatred, inciting killings, and prolonging killings, with additional sentences of 20 and 10 years respectively. The court determined that Hassoun, who served as grand mufti from 2005 to 2021, used his religious position to provide legitimacy for the al-Assad regime's military and security operations. His teachings were also found to have justified the use of barrel bombs against civilian areas, violating international humanitarian law. Hassoun was arrested in March 2025 after emerging from hiding.