Ex-Daraa Political Security Head Atef Najib Denies Charges in Open Trial

The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus held the third session of Atef Najib’s trial on May 19, 2026. Najib, who led the Political Security Branch in Daraa during the 2011 protests, appeared with his lawyer before Judge Fakhr al‑Din al‑Aryan as part of a public process targeting former regime officials. Syrian state media and the Ministry of Justice broadcast parts of the proceedings, which were paused during witness testimony to protect confidentiality. The session — attended by about 21 legal and international organizations — formed part of the interrogation and confrontation file; the judge also noted receipt of documents related to stripping fugitive officials, including Bashar al‑Assad and Maher al‑Assad, of civil rights.

Najib repeatedly denied the charges against him, rejecting accusations of arrests, shootings, or detainee deaths in his branch. He said security work in Daraa became fragmented after March 2011, described disputes with then‑National Security Bureau head Hisham Bakhtiar over responses to protests, and accused other branches (Military Security, State Security, Air Force Intelligence) of shooting at demonstrators. Najib maintained he was dismissed on March 22, 2011, that his branch lacked authority to hold detainees beyond 24 hours without Damascus approval, and that he had sought to mediate releases in some cases. The court continued to confront him with earlier testimony and evidence as the trial progresses, as reported by Enab Baladi