His crimes sparked the Syrian revolution.. Atef Najib, Assad's cousin, arrested

The Director of the Syrian General Security Directorate in Latakia Governorate, western Syria, Major Mustafa Kneifati, confirmed today, Friday, the arrest of Brigadier General Atef Najib in the army of the deposed Bashar al-Assad regime, who played a role in igniting the Syrian revolution after he tried to suppress it in its cradle in Daraa Governorate.

"In a qualitative operation, the General Security Directorate in Latakia Governorate, in cooperation with the military forces, was able to arrest Brigadier General Atef Najib, who held the position of head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa," Kenafati said in a statement to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

He added that Najib is involved in committing crimes against the Syrian people, and his arrest comes within the framework of the authorities' efforts to hold accountable those involved in violations against the Syrian people and to enhance security and stability in the region.

Atef Najib held the position of head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa Governorate until 2011, the beginning of the revolution in Syria. He enjoyed wide influence within the security services, and had strong influence in southern Syria due to his kinship with the head of the Syrian regime, as he was his cousin.

In 2011, Atef Naguib’s name was associated with one of the most prominent events that sparked the revolution against the Assad regime. The Political Security Branch, which he led, arrested a number of children in the city of Daraa after they wrote anti-regime slogans on the walls of their schools, following protests that took place in several Arab countries, including Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, against their regimes.

The arrest took place on February 27, 2011, during which 18 students were arrested in the city of Daraa, for writing the phrases “The people want to overthrow the regime” and “Your turn has come, Doctor.”