From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 31, 2025
Syrian authorities say they arrested Assad cousin who orchestrated 2011 crackdown
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSyria’s new authorities announce the arrest of a cousin of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, accused of orchestrating a crackdown in Daraa, where the 2011 uprising began.
Atif Najib, the former head of political security in Daraa in southern Syria, was arrested in Latakia, on the country’s west coast, the official SANA news agency reports, citing a senior security official.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor says he is the highest-ranking figure to be detained since Islamist-led fighters toppled Assad on December 8.
“Responsible for torturing children in #Daraa.. Security forces arrest Atef Najib.”#Syria pic.twitter.com/StMCLAEwEW
— Mohammad Alasakra (@mohammed_asakra) January 31, 2025
“The criminal Atif Najib has been referred to the competent authorities to be tried and held accountable for the crimes he committed against the Syrian people,” SANA reports.
The protest movement against Assad began in Daraa on March 15, 2011, after 15 students were arrested for allegedly writing anti-government slogans on the city’s walls. Residents said the students were tortured, leading to a protest to demand their release that ended in bloodshed. Najib, blamed for the crackdown, was dismissed soon after. He was on a US Treasury sanctions list alongside other Syrian officials.
The Times of Israel Community.