The Military Criminal Court in Aleppo (northern Syria) issued sentences on Thursday, October 15, against defendants accused of committing violations during the violence that swept Syria’s coastal region in March 2025.
The rulings delivered during the second hearing ranged from death sentences to prison terms of up to 20 years, along with shorter prison sentences and acquittals, according to an Enab Baladi correspondent who attended the session.
The court convened at the Palace of Justice in Aleppo, presided over by Judge Zakaria Bakkar, as part of ongoing trials related to violations committed during the March 2025 coastal violence.
Death and Prison Sentences for Three Defendants
The court convicted Waddah Ismail, Maher Ali, and Maher al-Othman of offenses involving acts intended to incite sedition and fighting among Syrians, as well as heading and leading armed groups to attack government forces, according to the verdicts.
The court sentenced Waddah Ismail and Maher Ali to death by hanging for offenses involving acts intended to incite sedition and fighting among Syrians, and for heading and leading armed groups to confront government forces.
Maher al-Othman was sentenced to 12 years in prison for complicity in inciting fighting and sectarian strife, as well as leading armed groups to confront government forces.
Sentences Against Government Forces Personnel
In a related case involving violations committed during the coastal violence, the court issued rulings against several members of government forces, including prison sentences of varying lengths and acquittals.
The court convicted Mohammad Bakour, a member of the Defense Ministry’s 82nd Division, of intentional homicide and sentenced him to 20 years in prison, with time spent in pretrial detention credited toward his sentence.
Ammar Abdul Aal, a member of the Defense Ministry’s 54th Division, was convicted of torture and sentenced to three years in prison, with time already spent in detention credited toward his sentence.
The court also sentenced Captain Mustafa Shannan to two years in prison for complicity in torture. Khaled Muhaimid, a member of the 54th Division, received a two-year prison sentence on the same charge.
In another ruling, the court sentenced Mahmoud Shaheen to two months in prison for the misdemeanor of causing bodily harm.
The court acquitted Abdul Raouf Bakrjan, a member of the 50th Division, and Mohammad Zarzouri, a member of the 54th Division.
Defendant’s Trial Postponed
During the hearing, video recordings containing threats were presented to one of the defendants, who subsequently denied the charge against him.
The court ordered a technical examination of the video recordings and postponed his trial until the following Thursday, October 22.
Previous Sentences
On September 17, the Military Criminal Court in Aleppo issued rulings against four defendants in connection with the coastal violence, including a death sentence, life imprisonment, a 20-year prison sentence, an acquittal, and an order for release.
The court delivered its verdicts against the four defendants during the first hearing.
Hadi Qablan was sentenced to death after being convicted of inciting civil war and participating in an armed group. Tahani Ahmed was sentenced to life imprisonment and stripped of civil rights, while being acquitted of the felony charge of inciting sedition.
The court acquitted Hassan Halibiya of the felony charges of inciting sedition and forming armed groups, and ordered his release.
Bassel Marei al-Hassan, a Defense Ministry member, was convicted of intentional homicide and sentenced to 20 years in prison, with time spent in pretrial detention credited toward his sentence.