A CNN war correspondent may have unknowingly facilitated the release of a notorious Syrian torturer while covering the fall of the Assad regime, according to a new report. The incident, involving journalist Clarissa Ward, unfolded during an effort by Syrian rebels to free prisoners held in a black site detention facility.
The New York Post reported that independent fact-checking group Verify-Sy identified the man Ward helped “rescue” as Salama Mohammad Salama, a first lieutenant in Syria’s Air Force intelligence. Salama was reportedly infamous for torturing young men over minor infractions like failing to pay bribes at checkpoints. Initially, the man had given his name as Adel Ghurbal when discovered by Ward and the rebel fighters in a cell within a former Air Force intelligence headquarters in Damascus.
CNN, responding to the revelation, admitted that Salama might have misled Ward and her crew. “We have subsequently been investigating his background and are aware that he may have given a false identity,” the network said in a statement. “We are continuing our reporting into this and the wider story.”
In the original CNN report, Ward was shown entering the facility alongside Syrian rebels searching for political prisoners. Cameras captured the dramatic moment Salama was found in a dark, windowless cell. He claimed he hadn’t seen daylight in months and was unaware the Assad regime had fallen. However, Verify-Sy questioned his condition, noting that Salama appeared “well-groomed and physically healthy, with no visible injuries or signs of torture.” His calm demeanor when exposed to sunlight also raised suspicions.
Locals later informed Verify-Sy that Salama had likely been detained for less than a month due to a dispute with a higher-ranking officer over extortion money. There were no records of a prisoner named Adel Ghurbal at the Damascus Air Force base, further casting doubt on his story.
Tell me this is not staged. Tell me Clarissa Ward is not a soap opera actor. Tell me CNN is not an entertainment network. Tell me what I just saw does not deserve Oscars.
CNN, take a bow. You have mastered the school of 'staged journalism."#Syria
pic.twitter.com/6QZCZ4OojB— Syed Zafar Mehdi (@mehdizafar) December 12, 2024
Following his discovery, Salama was fed, given medical attention, and escorted away by EMTs. The rebels appeared to accept his story at face value, allowing him to walk free.
Verify-Sy’s investigation revealed that Salama, known by the nickname “Abu Hamza,” had a sinister history. He reportedly manned security checkpoints in Homs, where he engaged in theft, extortion, and even murdеr for the regime. He was infamous for forcing locals to act as informants and eliminating those who refused to pay bribes.
CNN has denied any fabrication or orchestration of the event. “No one other than the CNN team was aware of our plans to visit the prison building featured in our report that day. The events transpired as they appear in our film,” the network insisted.
The shocking revelation underscores the chaotic and dangerous nature of wartime reporting, where the line between victim and oppressor can blur in the fog of conflict.
Leave a Comment