A Syrian criminal court sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia on Tuesday, convicting him of premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity committed during Syria's 14-year civil war. The court also sentenced Assad's younger brother, Maher al-Assad, to death in absentia on charges of premeditated murder and torture. Who Else Was ConvictedThe court sentenced Atef Najib, a maternal cousin of Bashar al-Assad and the former head of political security in southern Syria's Daraa province, to death for crimes against humanity. Because both were tried in absentia, Tuesday's death sentences cannot be carried out unless Syria secures custody of them. Tuesday's verdict is expected to be followed by additional cases against other former officials as Syria's judiciary works through a backlog of alleged war crimes from the conflict.