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The scandal with the CNN report: the "victim of the regime" in Syria turned out to be an extortionist officer
A CNN crew filmed a report about a prison in Syria, where the allegedly tortured prisoner was recognized as an intelligence officer known for extortion. The story caused a scandal.
A CNN film crew led by Clarissa Ward made a report from the Syrian Saydnaya prison, telling about an allegedly tortured prisoner who was held for three months without food, water and hygiene. The prisoner introduced himself as Adel Gharbal from Homs, claiming that he had been tortured and starved. The journalists gave him water and released him.
However, the story soon acquired a scandalous connotation:
1. The "prisoner" seen did not look like a person who had survived torture or starvation.
2. The residents of Homs identified him as Salama Mohammed Salama, an officer of the Air Force intelligence agency, known by the nickname "Abu Hamza". He became famous for extortion at checkpoints and harassment of citizens.
According to Syrian sources, Salama ended up in prison because of a conflict with a superior officer about the division of illegal profits and spent less than a month behind bars.
CNN has not commented on the incident, leaving questions about the authenticity of the report unanswered. The case caused a wave of criticism, calling into question the quality of journalistic standards and the objectivity of reporting from conflict zones.
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