A CNN report raises doubts about a prisoner’s true identity after his rescue from a Syrian jail, sparking controversy and investigation.
Damascus: So, there’s this wild story about a guy CNN rescued from a Syrian prison. They thought he was a victim, but now it looks like he might not be who he says he is. Crazy, right?
It all started when CNN aired this emotional segment showing a man who had been locked up for three months. He was found in a secret jail, and the whole thing went viral. But then, a fact-checking group stepped in and said, “Hold on a second!”
They claimed the guy, who called himself Adel Ghurbal, might actually be a torturer for the Assad regime. Talk about a plot twist! CNN’s reporter, Clarissa Ward, was there with her crew when they stumbled upon this guy in a locked room.
When they found him, he was hiding under a blanket and looked pretty shaken up. He asked for food and water, saying he hadn’t seen sunlight in ages. But then people started questioning his story.
Some folks pointed out that he looked way too healthy for someone who had been tortured. Plus, his reaction to the sunlight didn’t quite add up. It raised a lot of eyebrows.
Then, the fact-checkers revealed that his real name is Salama Mohammad Salama, and he’s actually a first lieutenant in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence. Yikes! He’s known for being involved in some pretty nasty stuff.
According to locals, he was involved in extortion and even forced people to become informants. His recent arrest was apparently due to a spat over money with a higher-up. Sounds like a real piece of work!
After all this came to light, CNN said they’re looking into it. They insist they didn’t make anything up, but they’re checking to see if the guy gave a false identity. It’s a mess!
Meanwhile, the guy has gone quiet on social media, probably trying to cover his tracks. It’s a wild story that keeps getting wilder!