Syria has begun its first public trial of officials who served under Bashar al-Assad, Atef Najib, former head of political security in Deraa province. Najib is accused of overseeing a violent crackdown on protesters during the 2011 uprising. Al-Assad and his brother, Maher, former commander of the Syrian military's 4th Armoured Division, are also charged in absentia with charges of killings, torture, extortion and drug trafficking. The trial is being held in public to ensure transparency and judicial independence as part of the transitional justice process.