France's highest court is set to decide whether Bashar Assad, the former leader of Syria now in exile in Russia, can be stripped of his head of state immunity due to the severity of evidence linking him to chemical attacks and other atrocities. If the court lifts Assad's immunity, it could allow for his trial in absentia over chemical attacks in Ghouta and Douma, setting a precedent for prosecuting other leaders accused of war crimes. Human rights activists and lawyers argue this would be a significant victory for victims and could open new legal avenues against regime members. While Assad has denied involvement and remains unlikely to be extradited from Russia, a French arrest warrant could lay the groundwork for future prosecution and bring to light a vast trove of evidence collected by activists and investigators. The case reflects a broader shift in international law, challenging the traditional immunity of heads of state accused of severe human rights abuses.