The Fourth Criminal Court began in DamascusToday, Thursday, the first session of the trial of Ahmed Hassoun, the former Mufti of the Syrian Republic during the regime’s era LionIn the presence of Attorney General Hassan Al-Turba, and local and international human rights organizations.
The first public trial session for the accused Ahmed Hassoun begins before the Fourth Criminal Court in the Palace of Justice in Damascus#Syrian_News pic.twitter.com/nwdatST9ak
– Syrian News (@AlekhbariahSY) June 25, 2026
During the session, the president of the court, Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Erian, read out the list of charges against Hassoun, which included “exploiting his position to achieve personal interests, establishing relations with officials in the former regime, in addition to meetings and lectures that were described as being of an inflammatory nature in support of the regime in confronting its opponents.”
The trial of the former Mufti of Syria, Ahmed Hassoun, in Damascus… and he is accused of incitement and supporting war crimes (video and photos)https://t.co/kqLsdrFZNS pic.twitter.com/oCVBi0AWHl
— Annahar Al Arabi (@AnnaharAr) June 25, 2026
The charges also included “directing media statements described as inflammatory against civilians in various regions, and public support for foreign figures, militias, and forces that participated in the conflict, in addition to supporting Russian and Iranian intervention in the conflict.” Syria“.
The former Mufti of the Republic during the era of the Assad regime, Ahmed Hassoun (X).
The judge noted that “the actions attributed to the accused may place him within the framework of partnership in incitement and justification of violations within the context of an armed conflict,” according to what was stated in the indictment, which was based on Syrian laws and the rules of international humanitarian law.
For his part, the representative of the Public Prosecution confirmed that “the case is not related to an ordinary person, but rather to a person who held a high religious position that was supposed to be a symbol of bloodshed, but he was used to incite and justify violence.”
He added, “The accused was linked to a network of relationships with officials in the former regime and participated in statements and media meetings that included threats and incitement against Syrians at home and abroad.”
After the end of the first session, the court decided to adjourn the session to next July 16 to complete the procedures and hear the plaintiffs and witnesses.
