CNN Corrects Report on Syrian Prisoner’s Identity After Investigation

The man featured in CNN's viral report was identified as a former Assad regime intelligence officer, not the civilian prisoner he claimed to be.

CNN aired a dramatic report of a prisoner’s release from a Damascus jail, initially portraying him as a civilian victim of Assad’s regime.
Subsequent investigations revealed the man, Salama Mohammad Salama, is a former Syrian Air Force Intelligence officer with a controversial past.
The man had falsely identified himself as Adel Ghurbal, claiming to be a civilian imprisoned for three months under harsh conditions.
CNN utilized facial recognition software and local testimonies to confirm Salama’s true identity, prompting the network to issue a correction.
The network stated it was not complicit in staging the event and continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Salama’s imprisonment and release.