• A trial against former officials of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has begun in Damascus, including his cousin Atef Najib, former security chief in Dara’a province.
  • Atef Najib is accused of brutality and responsibility for the deaths of protesters in 2011, including 13-year-old Hamza al-Khatib who was tortured and killed.
  • The trial is public, but critics describe it as a ‘folk festival’ with much noise and lack of seriousness.
  • Bashar al-Assad is absent as he is in exile in Moscow.
  • Many families of victims hope for justice, but the outcome of the proceedings is uncertain.

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