A Syrian court sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother Maher al-Assad to death on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated during the country’s 14-year civil war. He was convicted of murder, systemic torture of detainees and other war crimes. United Nations agencies and rights groups have repeatedly accused the regime of war crimes and human rights abuses. Over half a million people were killed during the civil war and more than 13 million others displaced. He is accused of forming and leading armed groups at the start of the Syrian civil war under the supervision of the former Syrian military’s elite Fourth Division, which was headed by Maher al-Assad.