Syrian court issues first sentences over 2025 massacres of Alawites

Home Middle East Syria's judiciary on Thursday issued its first verdicts over the massacres of Alawites on the Syrian coast last year, sentencing a former member of government forces to 20 years in prison. A supporter of deposed president Bashar al-Assad received a death sentence and another was sentenced to life in jail. Issued on: 17/09/2026 - 11:13 1 min Reading time People in Syria's northeastern city of Qamishli protest against sectarian violence targeting the Alawite minority, in March 2025. © Delil Souleiman, AFP A court in Syria on Thursday sentenced a former member of government forces to 20 years in prison, while two supporters of the deposed government received a death sentence and life in prison, in the first verdicts over the killing of Alawites on the Syrian coast last year. Fourteen people were accused of involvement in massacres, in a trial that opened last November. They were seven government forces members and seven supporters of former President Bashar al-Assad. Read moreExclusive: Syria's Latakia province reels after massacre of Alawites (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Keywords for this article