CNN accused of ‘fabricating’ story about Syrian jail release
CNN faces criticism following a report about the release of a civilian from a prison in Damascus, which includes allegations that he was an intelligence officer. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
An “ordinary civilian” discovered by the network in a “secret prison” has been identified as an intelligence officer involved in crimes such as killings, torture, and extortion.
CNN has acknowledged that a Syrian man it claimed to have ‘discovered’ in a Damascus prison—featured in a controversial report that included footage of a journalist participating in the captive's release—is actually a former intelligence officer with a troubling history.
The man was reportedly imprisoned following a conflict with his superiors regarding the division of extorted funds.
The situation began to unfold last week when CNN released a widely criticized video featuring Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward entering a “secret prison” in Damascus. This was part of a narrative centered on the search for missing US journalist Austin Tice after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad.
In the video, Ward was seen with an armed individual and encountered a locked cell, reportedly the last one still closed in the facility. Upon entering, she found a man covered by a blanket who stood up, expressed gratitude for his release, and kissed her hand as they exited.
Ward identified the man as ‘Adel Ghurbal’ from Homs, labeling him an “ordinary citizen.” She indicated that he had spent several months in prison and had gone days without food or water. He also mentioned being interrogated by security services regarding the information on his phone.
However, multiple observers noted that the man showed no signs of malnutrition or dehydration; his hair and beard were trimmed, and his nails were well-groomed. CNN did not address these apparent discrepancies.
On Sunday, the Verify-sy web portal challenged CNN's reporting by revealing, through local sources, that the man’s real identity is Salama Mohammad Salama, also known as Abu Hamza, and that he is a first lieutenant in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence.
According to the outlet, this man “managed several security checkpoints in Homs and was involved in theft, extortion, and coercing residents into becoming informants.” He also allegedly took part in military operations that resulted in civilian deaths and was responsible for the unlawful detention and torture of many young men, often on fabricated charges.
Sources told Verify-sy that Salama was not imprisoned for these offenses but due to a disagreement over the division of profits from extorted money with a higher-ranking officer. The portal even presented an image supposedly showing Salama in a military uniform seated at his office.
”Did CNN fabricate the story of ‘Freeing a Syrian Detainee from a Secret Prison?’ Did CNN deliberately mislead its audience to rehabilitate Abu Hamza’s image, or did it fall victim to misinformation?” the portal questioned.
Following these revelations, CNN published an article stating that upon further investigation, the individual in question did appear to have served in Syrian intelligence and had been accused of extortion. The network noted that it remains “unclear how or why Salama ended up in the Damascus jail,” mentioning that his “current whereabouts are unknown,” and that CNN has been unable to reach him.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
CNN has acknowledged that a Syrian man it claimed to have ‘discovered’ in a Damascus prison—featured in a controversial report that included footage of a journalist participating in the captive's release—is actually a former intelligence officer with a troubling history.
The man was reportedly imprisoned following a conflict with his superiors regarding the division of extorted funds.
The situation began to unfold last week when CNN released a widely criticized video featuring Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward entering a “secret prison” in Damascus. This was part of a narrative centered on the search for missing US journalist Austin Tice after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad.
In the video, Ward was seen with an armed individual and encountered a locked cell, reportedly the last one still closed in the facility. Upon entering, she found a man covered by a blanket who stood up, expressed gratitude for his release, and kissed her hand as they exited.
Ward identified the man as ‘Adel Ghurbal’ from Homs, labeling him an “ordinary citizen.” She indicated that he had spent several months in prison and had gone days without food or water. He also mentioned being interrogated by security services regarding the information on his phone.
However, multiple observers noted that the man showed no signs of malnutrition or dehydration; his hair and beard were trimmed, and his nails were well-groomed. CNN did not address these apparent discrepancies.
On Sunday, the Verify-sy web portal challenged CNN's reporting by revealing, through local sources, that the man’s real identity is Salama Mohammad Salama, also known as Abu Hamza, and that he is a first lieutenant in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence.
According to the outlet, this man “managed several security checkpoints in Homs and was involved in theft, extortion, and coercing residents into becoming informants.” He also allegedly took part in military operations that resulted in civilian deaths and was responsible for the unlawful detention and torture of many young men, often on fabricated charges.
Sources told Verify-sy that Salama was not imprisoned for these offenses but due to a disagreement over the division of profits from extorted money with a higher-ranking officer. The portal even presented an image supposedly showing Salama in a military uniform seated at his office.
”Did CNN fabricate the story of ‘Freeing a Syrian Detainee from a Secret Prison?’ Did CNN deliberately mislead its audience to rehabilitate Abu Hamza’s image, or did it fall victim to misinformation?” the portal questioned.
Following these revelations, CNN published an article stating that upon further investigation, the individual in question did appear to have served in Syrian intelligence and had been accused of extortion. The network noted that it remains “unclear how or why Salama ended up in the Damascus jail,” mentioning that his “current whereabouts are unknown,” and that CNN has been unable to reach him.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
