Syrian man in viral CNN interview identified as 'fake prisoner': report

CNN launched an investigation into the identity of a Syrian man, who appeared in the viral interview under a “fake identity.” The probe comes after a Syrian fact-checking organisation identified the man as a former intelligence officer of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The revelation followed a CNN broadcast that showed the man being released from a secret prison in Damascus.

The report was conducted by CNN’s chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, who, along with her team, visited the prison on December 11 after the fall of Assad’s regime.

However, on Sunday, Verify-Sy, a Syrian fact-checking group affiliated with the International Fact-Checking Network (Poynter), questioned the credibility of the man's story. 

The organisation claimed to have identified him as a first lieutenant in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence, affiliated with Assad’s regime.

Verify-Sy stated that while it reviewed official records, it could not fully confirm the man’s identity. 

Citing statements from locals, Verifi-Sy said Salama was thrown into a Damascus prison about a month ago after his alleged dispute over extortion money with a senior officer. 

The group conducted interviews with locals from Homs, who reportedly identified the man as 

someone stationed at a checkpoint in their neighborhood. According to the locals, he would harass and abuse passersby.

The fact-checking organisation also cast doubt on the man’s appearance, noting that he appeared “well-groomed and physically healthy, with no visible injuries or signs of torture.” 

This, they argued, was inconsistent with someone allegedly imprisoned for 90 days under the harsh conditions typically witnessed in Assad’s secret prisons.

Verify-Sy further alleged that the man’s real name was Salama Muhammad Salama, also known as Abu Hamza, and accused him of involvement in “theft, extortion, and coercing civilians into providing information.”

In response to these allegations, CNN told The Daily Beast that the report reflected events as they unfolded during its team’s visit to the prison.

“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.

“The events transpired as they appear in our film,” the spokesperson added.

“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.”

The spokesperson further stated, “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.”