Rescued Syrian Prisoner Was Allegedly Assad’s Intelligence Operative Responsible for Brutality, Claims He Used False ID, Report Says

The story of the man rescued from a Syrian prison by CNN has taken a dramatic turn.

Initially believed to be an innocent civilian named Adel Gharbal, a new investigation has cast doubt on his true identity.

CNN’s chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, found the man in a Damascus prison under a blanket, where he claimed to have been wrongfully imprisoned.

According to his story, he was arrested after being taken from his home in Homs and accused of having connections with rebel forces.

He also claimed that he was deprived of food and water for days when his captors fled during the rebel takeover of Damascus.

However, a Syrian fact-checking group, Verify-Sy, has uncovered startling new details about the man’s past.

The group now alleges that his real name is Salama Mohammad Salama, a former first lieutenant in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence.

This change in identity brings with it troubling accusations.

Verify-Sy reports that Salama, under the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad, was responsible for killing civilians and torturing young men in Homs on fabricated charges.

Allegations of War Crimes and Corruption

According to local residents, Salama was involved in a range of abuses, including extortion, theft, and coercion of local civilians into becoming informants.

He also allegedly played a role in military operations in Homs during 2014.

Furthermore, it is claimed that Salama was recently imprisoned in the Damascus facility after a dispute with a senior officer over extorted money.

Salama, according to locals, has attempted to gain sympathy for his actions, suggesting he was “forced” to commit these crimes.

He also reportedly went to great lengths to erase any evidence of his involvement in war crimes, deactivating his social media accounts and changing his phone number.

The Investigation Unravels New Evidence

The discovery of the prisoner by Clarissa Ward’s team seemed like a moment of hope for those still missing.

While the team was touring a notorious detention site known for torture and brutality, they stumbled upon a locked cell, which was shot open by a Syrian rebel guard.

Ward found the man, who introduced himself as Gharbal, trembling under a blanket.

He was given food and water and then led outside.

However, Verify-Sy’s investigation casts doubt on the authenticity of the story.

The group questioned why the prisoner appeared unusually calm, with no visible signs of torture despite the harsh conditions prisoners were allegedly subjected to.

Further research revealed that his real name was likely Salama Mohammad Salama, not Gharbal, and that he was known for his brutal role in the Homs region.

Locals confirmed his presence at a notorious checkpoint, where residents were often targeted for minor infractions like refusing to pay bribes or for arbitrary reasons.

CNN’s Response and Ongoing Investigation

CNN has responded to the allegations, stating that the events in their report unfolded as they had reported.

A spokesperson confirmed that only the CNN team knew about their visit to the prison and that the prisoner’s release was at the discretion of a Syrian rebel guard.

However, they acknowledged the possibility that the man may have given a false identity. CNN also noted that they are continuing to investigate his background.

The mysterious identity of the man has left many unanswered questions about the truth of what occurred in the Syrian prisons.

While CNN was in Syria searching for missing US journalist Austin Tice, their investigation has opened a window into the horrors faced by thousands of detainees under Assad’s regime.

The Unfathomable Scale of Syrian Prisoner Torture

Since the Syrian revolution began in 2011, more than 157,000 people have been arrested or forcibly disappeared.

The brutality in these prisons has led to untold suffering, with many detainees subjected to extreme torture.

Human rights groups have documented heinous acts, including electrocution, burning, and physical mutilation.

Sednaya Prison, located outside Damascus, became infamous for its mass executions, earning the grim nickname “Human Slaughterhouse.”

Amnesty International reports that between 5,000 and 13,000 people were executed there from 2011 to 2015, with regular hangings occurring every week.

The fate of Salama, or the man known as Gharbal, remains uncertain.

While his story might change the narrative of Syria’s prison horrors, it also adds another layer of complexity to the already murky situation.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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