Syria's Former Grand Mufti Sentenced to Life in Prison
· World · The Hindu, BBC News
A Damascus court sentenced former grand mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun to life in prison on August 24, 2026, for inciting violence and justifying murder. Judge Fakhreddine al-Aryan stated that the religious establishment under the rule of former President Bashar Assad justified the use of barrel bombs against civilians. Hassoun served as the grand mufti from 2005 until the position was abolished in 2021. This ruling follows recent death sentences handed down to other senior Assad-era officials, including the former president and his brother, Maher. The trial took place at the Palace of Justice in Damascus.
Why it matters
The sentencing marks a significant legal step in the prosecution of former Syrian officials following the civil war and the ouster of Bashar Assad.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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