A Syrian court has issued death sentences to former President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad and several former regime officials after convicting them of war crimes, crimes against humanity, murder, extrajudicial killings and the detention and torture of children.

A Syrian court sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the country’s 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead.