Atef Najib

Atef Najib (; born 1960) is a Syrian former security official and head of political security in Daraa Governorate. A first cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he became infamous for being a catalyst for one of the flashpoints that ignited the Syrian civil war, when in 2011 he directed the abduction and torture of 15 boys who had written anti-Assad slogans in a public area in the city of Daraa. His aggressive actions prompted non-violent protests by local inhabitants, and—after security forces opened fire at a protest march—the gradual start of armed resistance.

Upon the fall of the Assad regime, he was arrested by Syrian security forces in rural Latakia on 31 January 2025. On 29 April 2026, Najib was the first figure of the Assad regime to face trial in Damascus. He was subsequently sentenced to death on 11 August 2026.

Early life He was born in Jableh, Latakia, in 1960, to an Alawite mother, Fatima Makhlouf, and a Sunni father, Najib Alaa. In Daraa, Atef constructed an "intricate personal web of control" and financial empire based around Daraa's financial infrastructure.

In an attempt to defuse the protests, Atef and former Daraa Governor Faisal Kalthoum were removed from office in early April and 23 March, respectively, and were placed under investigation by a judicial committee established by the Syrian government. On 13 June 2011, the committee imposed a travel ban on Atef. Despite this, he was transferred to become head of Political Security of Idlib Governorate in 2011, and was only arrested for a few days before being released due to Fatima's intervention, contrary to the advice from Western diplomats.

Atef was sanctioned by the United States via an executive order signed by then-US president Barack Obama on 29 April 2011, the European Union on 9 May 2011, Canada on 24 May 2011, Japan on 9 September 2011, and Australia on 25 February 2012.

Post-Assad regime After the fall of the Assad regime and the formation of the Syrian caretaker government, Atef was arrested by General Security in rural Latakia on 31 January 2025. Mustafa Kneifati, director of General Security in Latakia Governorate, stated that day that "through a qualitative operation, the General Security Directorate, in cooperation with military forces, managed to arrest Atef Najib". He added that the arrest of Atef Najib, considered "one of those involved in committing crimes against the Syrian people", came "within the framework of the authorities' efforts to hold accountable those involved in violations against the Syrian people and enhance security and stability in the region", and that he had been transferred to the relevant authorities for trial and accountability for his crimes against the Syrian people.

Trial and sentence On 26 April 2026, Syrian authorities opened the first public trial of senior figures from the Assad regime at the Justice Palace in Damascus, under tight security and strict judicial measures, in the presence of the Republic's Attorney General, Judge Hassan al-Turba, with the session chaired by the head of the Fourth Criminal Court and focused on the case of Atef. Najib is facing at least 10 charges, including murder, torture and responsibility for massacres, with 75 plaintiffs filling charges against him.

By July 2026, five hearings had been held, with the fifth, on 14 July, focused on prosecution witnesses. A report by Enab Baladi noted that the first two hearings showed notable openness and organization, while raising concerns over defense rights, the presumption of innocence, witness protection, and the legal characterization of the alleged crimes.

On 11 August 2026, the Syrian court convicted Najib of premeditated and intentional murder and torture resulting in death, and sentenced him to death.