Syria has begun the process of putting to trial the war criminals of Bashar Assad’s regime. The first suspect to put to trial is Atef Najib (featured above), who is the first cousin of Bashar Al-Assad and was the head of the Political Security Branch in Deraa province in southern Syria around 2008–2011.
In March 2011, Atef Najib abducted and tortured up to 12 teenagers who sprayed anti-regime graffiti in Deraa. The incident prompted one of the first protests against the government that led to the Syrian Spring. Regime forces led by Atef Najib reacted by shooting directly at protestors killing dozens of them including children. The Deraa massacre was one of the first incidents that sparked mass defections from the security forces, leading to the Syrian Revolution.
The second war criminal expected to go to trial is Amjad Yousef, who is know as the Butcher of Tadamon. A former military officer with Assad’s armed forces, Amjad Youssef, rounded up to 41 civilians in the Tadamon neighbourhood blindfolded them, forced them to fall into a pit, and then shot them dead. He then set fire to the bodies and covered the pit. The evidence of the video was discovered coincidentally when a laptop was taken for service. Amjad Yousef has admitted to his crimes. The video of his massacre can be viewed below (viewer discretion is advised).
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