A Syrian court commenced its inaugural transitional justice hearing on Sunday, April 27, 2026, in Damascus, targeting ousted President Bashar al-Assad and senior figures from his former government. Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad are being tried in absentia as they have fled the country, while former security official Atif Najib, who headed the political security branch in Daraa where the 2011 uprising began, appeared in court in handcuffs. Najib is accused of leading a campaign of repression and arrests. The court, led by judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, is initiating preparatory administrative and legal procedures, with a second hearing scheduled for May 10. This move signifies the new authorities' commitment to achieving justice and accountability for atrocities committed during the 13-year civil war.