Public statement or interview by Clarissa Ward addressing the allegations

CNN Investigates Clarissa Ward's Syrian Prisoner Report Amid Identity Concerns

Dec 16, 2024, 01:26 PM

CNN is facing scrutiny over a recent report by correspondent Clarissa Ward that documented the discovery and release of a Syrian prisoner named Adel Gharbal from solitary confinement in a secret prison in Damascus after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The report showed the prisoner emerging from confinement, allegedly held for three months. Multiple sources, including the Syrian fact-checking group Verify-Sy, have questioned the authenticity of the report, alleging that the segment was staged and that the man identified as Gharbal is actually Salama Mohammad Salama, a former first lieutenant in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence accused of war crimes and corruption. Critics have pointed out inconsistencies in the report, accusing CNN of fabrication and raising concerns over its credibility. Despite these allegations, CNN has continued to air the segment but has announced an internal investigation into the matter to verify the man's identity and address the allegations. The controversy has sparked strong reactions from social media users and renewed scrutiny over the network's journalistic standards.