Syria court sentences former grand mufti Ahmad Hassoun to life in prison

A court in Damascus has sentenced former Syrian grand mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun to life in prison over crimes linked to the country's nearly 14-year war. The ruling was issued by the Fourth Criminal Court on Monday. The court found him guilty of inciting violence, justifying killings and abusing his office.

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Hassoun was a senior Muslim religious official during the rule of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. He served as Syria's grand mufti from 2005 to 2021, making him one of the most prominent religious figures associated with the former state leadership. According to the court case, he was arrested at Damascus airport in March 2025 after emerging from hiding a month earlier.

His trial began on 25 June. The sentence marks a significant judicial outcome involving a figure long seen as close to the former authorities. The charges described by the court go to the role of public officials and religious leaders in supporting state violence during the war.

The case also reflects continuing efforts by Syria's courts to address crimes committed during the conflict, even as the country remains deeply shaped by its aftermath. Hassoun's position as grand mufti gave him a public platform during years of fighting, and the court said he used that office to legitimise the al-Assad government. That makes the case notable beyond one individual sentence, because it touches on questions of accountability for wartime rhetoric and the use of religious authority in political conflict.

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It also comes against the backdrop of a war that has left a long record of alleged abuses and contested responsibility. The available details do not indicate whether Hassoun's legal team plans to appeal or whether further proceedings are expected. It is also unclear whether the ruling will lead to additional cases involving other former officials or public figures.

What happens next will depend on how the sentence is enforced and whether the court releases more information about the evidence used in the trial. For now, the ruling stands as one of the most prominent wartime-related convictions involving a former Syrian religious leader. It adds to the legal record of the conflict and may be watched closely for signs of how far the authorities are prepared to pursue accountability cases.

The broader implications will depend on whether this remains an isolated judgment or part of a wider judicial process.

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