Syria has begun its first public trial of officials linked to former president Bashar al-Assad, marking a major step in post-war accountability.

Atef Najib, a former security chief and Assad’s cousin, is facing charges over abuses that helped spark the 2011 uprising.

The case centers on the arrest and torture of teenagers in Daraa, which triggered protests that led to the Syrian Civil War.

Assad and other senior figures have been charged in absentia, while Najib is the only defendant currently in custody, the AP has reported.

The trial is seen as a key test of Syria’s efforts to pursue justice after years of conflict and widespread human rights violations.