International criminal court announcements or major news outlets

CNN Investigates Syrian Prisoner Salama Mohammad Salama's Rescue Amid Allegations of False Identity and War Crimes

Dec 16, 2024, 10:32 PM

CNN is investigating the identity of a Syrian man it reported as a 'civilian' freed from a secret prison in Damascus, amid allegations that he provided a false identity. The individual, identified as Salama Mohammad Salama, was purportedly a first lieutenant in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence and is accused of being involved in torture and war crimes under the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Reports suggest that he was not an ordinary prisoner but a notorious member of Assad's forces, leading CNN to face intense scrutiny over its reporting. The network's chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, had presented the rescue in a dramatic segment, which is now under investigation following claims that the story may have been fabricated. Local residents have corroborated that Salama was indeed a former intelligence officer, contradicting CNN's initial portrayal of him as a victim of the regime. This incident has raised significant concerns about the network's journalistic practices and credibility in reporting from conflict zones.