CNN’s chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, was in Syria covering the aftermath of the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. While searching for signs of captured US journalist Austin Tice, Ward and her team stumbled upon what appeared to be an abandoned prison. They entered a cell where they found a man hidden under a blanket, seemingly left behind by fleeing regime forces.
BREAKING: Syrian prisoner "freed" by CNN last week is Salama Mohammad Salama, notorious Assad regime torturer pic.twitter.com/ZHpNzfiIYQ
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 16, 2024
This dramatic discovery was captured on camera, and the footage showed the man being led out into the light, expressing shock at his sudden freedom and the sunlight, suggesting he had been isolated for an extended period.
The Limping Leg: Initially, the man identified himself as Adel Ghurbal, claiming he was a civilian from Homs who had been imprisoned for three months, unaware of the regime’s collapse. He appeared to be in surprisingly good health, with no visible signs of mistreatment or malnourishment one might expect from someone held in such conditions. His well-groomed appearance, including manicured nails, raised initial suspicions among viewers and commentators on social media. Ward described the event as “one of the most extraordinary moments I have witnessed” in her 20-year career, emphasizing the emotional impact of freeing someone from such conditions.
The Punchline: However, the narrative took a sharp turn when a fact-checking organization, Verify-Sy, investigated and revealed that the man was not Ghurbal but Salama Mohammad Salama, also known as Abu Hamza. Salama was a first lieutenant in Syrian Air Force Intelligence with a notorious reputation for torture, extortion, and murder during the Syrian civil war. According to local reports, he was not imprisoned for three months but for less than a month due to an internal dispute over extorted funds with a higher-ranking officer, not because of any humanitarian or political reasons. His well-groomed appearance was incongruous with the story of prolonged solitary confinement he initially spun to Ward and her team.
Aftermath: CNN responded by stating they were investigating the man’s background, acknowledging the possibility that he had given a false identity. The incident highlighted issues of journalistic due diligence and the complexities of reporting in conflict zones. The story became a topic of criticism and humor on social media, with many pointing out the irony of a torturer being “rescued” and portrayed as a victim.
CNN was caught fabricating the story of a prisoner found in Assad’s secret prison.
— Warfare Analysis (@warfareanalysis) December 15, 2024
Fact-checking outlet @VeSyriaE conducted a background check on the so-called “prisoner,” and here’s what they found.
Thread, 1,2,3 pic.twitter.com/EqBBifmXai
It’s not the first time she’s scammed us
Although I hate the Assad regime. I will never forget that CNN’s Clarissa Ward also faked getting kidnapped by an armed group in Sudan and before that also faked coming under direct fire by Hamas.
— Yusuf (@TurtleYusuf) December 12, 2024
She’s determined to make herself the centre of every story she covers. https://t.co/dgXJYXDqtb pic.twitter.com/w3WGPJwK3v
It’s in their DNA
Just remember, Anderson Cooper sat in a puddle to make his viewers believe he was in a flood zone. pic.twitter.com/ktuPadDAou
— Donna Nana_ MAGA (@NanaWildflowers) October 10, 2024