Syrian prisoner freed in viral CNN segment was notorious Assad regime torturer

A supposed Syrian prisoner who was dramatically freed by a CNN journalist on-air was actually a notorious torturer in Bashar al-Assad’s government.

A supposed Syrian prisoner who was dramatically freed on-air during a widely ridiculed CNN segment was actually a notorious torturer in Bashar al-Assad’s government, the network has confirmed.

Clarissa Ward, CNN’s chief international correspondent, went viral for a segment last week in which the American TV crew, escorted through a Damascus prison by rebel fighters, happened upon the man hiding under a blanket in a windowless cell.

Describing it as “one of the most extraordinary moments I have witnessed” in her 20 years of reporting, Ward was seen comforting the man and giving him a water bottle, telling him, “You’re OK. You’re OK.”

She then led him by the arm outside the prison, as he looked at the sky exclaiming, “My God, the light. Oh God, there is light.”

Many social media users were less than convinced by the performance.

CNN happened across a prisoner hiding under a blanket. Picture: X

He claimed he was kept in the windowless cell for three months. Picture: X

CNN initially reported that the man, who identified himself as Adel Ghurbal from the central Syrian city of Homs, had been kept in the cell for three months and was not even aware of Assad regime’s toppling days earlier by rebels led by former al-Qaeda affiliate Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — until the moment he popped up from under his blanket.

On Sunday, “independent and unbiased” fact-checkers Verify-Sy published a detailed report claiming that the seemingly innocent prisoner was actually Salama Mohammad Salama — a first lieutenant in Syrian air force intelligence with a long history of alleged war crimes.

“We can confirm the real identity of the man from our story last Wednesday as Salama Mohammed Salama,” Ward wrote on X on Monday.

Verify-Sy noted that he appeared “well-groomed, and physically healthy, with no visible injuries or signs of torture — an incongruous portrayal of someone allegedly held in solitary confinement in the dark for 90 days”.

He also “did not flinch or blink even when gazing up at the sky” despite having said he had not seen sunlight for three months.

Journalist Clarissa Ward comforted the man and gave him water. Picture: X

She then led him out by the arm into the light. Picture: CNN

Verify-Sy then found that there was no record of an Adel Ghurbal in the region — leading it to his true identity, Salama, the outlet said.

Known as “Abu Hamza”, Salama worked at several security checkpoints in Homs and was involved in theft, extortion and coercing residents into becoming informants for Assad, local residents told the fact-checkers.

He also killed civilians during the Syrian civil war in 2014 — and allegedly detained and tortured young men on bogus charges, many of whom refused to pay bribes, Verify-Sy reported.

Locals claim he was locked up in the prison where he was discovered for less than a month due to a dispute with a high-ranking officer over sharing the extorted money.

Salama was freed by the rebel fighters, fed a meal and later taken away by paramedics in the CNN report.

CNN had earlier denied allegations that the piece was fabricated, but said it was looking into claims the man had given a “false identity”.

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

“The events transpired as they appear in our film. The decision to release the prisoner featured in our report was taken by the guard — a Syrian rebel. We reported the scene as it unfolded, including what the prisoner told us, with clear attribution. 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.”

Following the CNN segment, the Syrian Red Crescent posted photos of Salama on social media saying he had been “reunited with a relative” in Damascus.

CNN said on Monday it had obtained a photo that appeared to confirm Verify-Sy’s reporting, showing Salama while he was on duty, wearing military clothing in a government office.

“Salama’s current whereabouts are unknown,” the updated report stated.

— with NY Post

Originally published as Syrian prisoner freed in viral CNN segment was notorious Assad regime torturer