Syrian Ex-Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun Sentenced to Life in Prison for War Crimes

Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, a top Muslim religious official under ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been sentenced to life in prison for crimes committed during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war.

The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus issued the ruling on Monday, finding Hassoun guilty of a range of crimes, including inciting violence, justifying killings and the abuse of his office.

Hassoun, who was Syria’s grand mufti between 2005 and 2021, was arrested at Damascus airport in March 2025, after he emerged from hiding a month earlier. His trial began on June 25.

The court handed Hassoun several prison sentences for various charges, including 20 years after being found guilty of inciting killings. The judge also sentenced him to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of prolonging the killings.

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