Syria’s Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus sentenced former grand mufti Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun to life imprisonment on Monday after convicting him of offences including incitement to violence, incitement to murder, abuse of office and provoking sectarian conflict.

The court also ordered the seizure and confiscation of Hassoun’s movable and immovable property and barred him from benefiting from general or special amnesties, conditional release or suspension of his sentence.

Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan said the court had found Hassoun responsible for conduct that amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Syria’s armed conflict under the former government.

The judge said the official religious establishment, including the office of the grand mufti, had been used to provide religious justification for military and security operations. He also said Hassoun had supported the use of barrel bombs in populated areas, which the court considered a violation of international humanitarian law.

According to the court, Hassoun had also provided regular financial support to the Jerusalem Brigade, an armed formation that participated in military operations during the conflict. The judge said the payments contributed to the group’s ability to continue its military activities.

The court further found that Hassoun’s public statements and recorded appearances had encouraged or legitimised the use of violence against particular groups, and that his conduct amounted to assistance and moral support for acts constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ruling imposed several individual sentences for the offences. These included 20 years for intentional incitement to murder, 10 years for direct involvement in intentional murder, three years and a $195,000 fine for abuse of office, and six months and a fine for provoking sectarian and racial divisions. The court merged the custodial sentences and ordered the most severe punishment — life imprisonment.

The prosecution had sought the death penalty during the fifth hearing on 6 August. Hassoun’s defence had asked for additional time to submit a final written defence.

His trial began on 25 June, when prosecutors accused him of exploiting his position as grand mufti to maintain relationships with senior figures in the former government, security and military officials and leaders of armed groups. The charges also included allegedly encouraging members of the former armed forces to support the government against its opponents and making statements directed against civilians and refugees.

During the proceedings, the defence challenged video evidence submitted by prosecutors and requested technical examination of the recordings to establish their authenticity and rule out manipulation. The court granted that request. Witnesses were also heard in a closed session, including testimony concerning alleged financial extortion and the use of influence to secure the release of detainees.

Hassoun was arrested in March 2025 while attempting to leave Syria, according to the Syrian authorities. He had served as the country’s grand mufti from 2005 until the position was abolished in its previous form in 2021.

The verdict is part of a series of prosecutions being conducted by Syria’s transitional authorities against figures associated with the former government.