The former strongman of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, stands condemned as he was sentenced to death in absentia. He was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for his repression during the civil war. It remains to be seen how the fractured and lawless society of Syria will react to this ex-parte dictum. President Sharaa, who seized power in Syria on the pledge of evolving a nationalist decorum, must look beyond Assad and work for regional serenity. It also comes with the underlining that despots have a timeline to stay put in power, as sooner or later, history sits in judgment.