Investigations reveal Syrian prisoner in CNN report as notorious intelligence officer

A recent CNN video report released on December 12 shows correspondent Clarissa Ward entering a Damascus prison, accompanied by an armed individual, to uncover a man locked inside a cell.

The man, introduced as Adel Ghurbal from Homs, stated he was arrested three months prior.

 - Discrepancies in the story -

Ghurbal recounted harrowing conditions, asserting he had been kept in complete darkness for three months. However, many online doubted his testimony, and questioning his demeanor upon release raised doubts.

Why does this seem kind of staged?

— William Hamill (@williamhbhamill) December 12, 2024

If you're going to stage a propaganda video, at least put some effort into it. This was so cringe. The second-hand embarrassment was intolerable.

— arvisbanon (@arvisbanon) December 13, 2024

Despite the purported confinement, he gazed directly at the sky without flinching or shielding his eyes, contradicting the expectations of someone unaccustomed to sunlight.

In addition, his clean and healthy appearance fueled skepticism. The absence of visible injuries or signs of harsh treatment contrasted starkly with his claims of solitary confinement in dire conditions.

Why are his nails trimmed after 3 months in isolation?
Why is he the only prisoner left 5 days after the prison was freed?

— Youssef Kobo (@Youssef_Kobo) December 12, 2024

 - Investigations reveal a different identity -

The Syrian fact-checking organization Verify-Sy launched an investigation into Ghurbal’s background, discovering inconsistencies. A search of public records yielded no results for Adel Ghurball.

Further inquiries in Homs identified him as Salama Mohammad Salama, known locally as "Abu Hamza."

Salama, a first lieutenant in Syrian Air Force Intelligence, was notorious in Homs for overseeing abusive security checkpoints. Residents of the Al-Bayyada neighborhood described him as a figure associated with extortion, intimidation, and coercion, forcing locals to act as informants under threat.

Sources revealed that Salama’s detention in Damascus stemmed from a personal dispute over extortion profits with a senior officer, rather than any connection to the political opposition.

 - History of violence -

Eyewitness accounts and testimonies from former detainees painted a grim portrait of Salama’s past. He was accused of orchestrating military operations that led to civilian deaths and arbitrarily detaining individuals, often on fabricated charges. Many victims were targeted for refusing to pay bribes or cooperate with intelligence forces.

In the aftermath of the Assad regime's collapse, Salama reportedly attempted to portray himself as a victim, claiming he had acted under duress. Residents noted his efforts to erase traces of his involvement in human rights abuses, including deactivating social media accounts and changing his phone number.

Verify-Sy unearthed additional evidence, including a photograph of Salama in full military uniform, taken in his office. The image was verified for authenticity, confirming his role in Syrian Air Force Intelligence and aligning with witness descriptions.

Unearthed photo of Salama Mohammad Salama (Credit: Verify Sy)

CNN’s response

CNN later issued a correction of the man’s identity, admitting he was Salama Mohammad Salama, a lieutenant in the Assad regime’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate.

The network said it continued to pursue information about the freed prisoner after the original report but had not been able to reestablish contact with him

CNN’s update did not include a retraction or an apology, but a denial that the report has been fabricated.

“No one other than the CNN team was aware of our plans to visit the prison building featured in our report that day,” a CNN spokesperson said to The Independent.

“We have subsequently been investigating his background and are aware that he may have given a false identity. We are continuing our reporting into this and the wider story,” the spokesperson added.