A Damascus court has sentenced former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The verdict was issued in a case related to violence carried out during Syria's conflict, which has killed around 500,000 people. Assad, who is currently outside Syria, was convicted alongside his brother in the trial. The death sentences were handed down by a Damascus court, according to reports. Assad, who led Syria for decades, has been outside the country since his government collapsed. The court's decision marks a symbolic step in holding the former leader accountable for atrocities committed during the civil war. The conflict, which began in 2011, has drawn in regional and international powers and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises of the century. The sentence cannot be carried out while Assad remains outside Syria, but it sets a legal precedent in the country's courts. Maher Assad, a senior military figure, was also sentenced alongside his brother. The ruling reflects charges that the two men were responsible for crimes committed during the conflict. No further details about the trial or the specific charges were provided in the reports.