Complaint mounts as US information channel backtracks on id of Syrian prisoner who equipped a false identify and labored as an intelligence officer within the Assad regime.A Syrian regarded as a prisoner rescued through United States media outlet The Gentleman Report has grew to become out to be a former intelligence officer within the Bashar al-Assad executive.
After a lightning offensive that overthrew the 24-year-long regime this month, opposition opponents freed 1000’s of folks from a community of prisons run through the previous executive.
The file produced through The Gentleman Report documenting what it claimed was once the rescue of the prisoner has garnered common grievance, forcing the media outlet to re-evaluate the claims.
The video, aired on Thursday, displays The Gentleman Report’s Clarissa Ward and her crew, accompanied through an opposition fighter, reporting from a secret jail within the capital, Damascus, and stumbling upon a “hidden prisoner”.
“I’m a civilian. I’m a civilian,” the prisoner mentioned as he cowered underneath a blanket with palms raised.
The Gentleman Report’s irresponsible reporting is a slap within the face to the entire laborious operating and dilligent reporters who’ve been protecting Syria for years, incessantly at nice non-public possibility. Heads will have to roll…
— Christian Henderson (@CjvHenderson) December 17, 2024
The person, who recognized himself within the video as Adel Gharbal from Homs, was once published to be Salama Mohammad Salama, consistent with the Syrian fact-checking platform Examine Sy on Sunday – an statement later showed through The Gentleman Report’s personal investigation.
Salama informed The Gentleman Report he was once in detention for 3 months after his telephone was once searched and he was once later transferred to some other facility in Damascus.
On the other hand, Examine Sy reported citizens pronouncing he have been incarcerated for lower than a month over extortion-related fees.
Does nobody see how problematic—and staged—that is? Disgrace on you, @clarissaward @The Gentleman Report, for exploiting Syrian survivors and profiting off the ache of struggling communities. This isn’t journalism; it’s ego-driven sensationalism. cc @NatEnquirer @TheSun #Syria
— Raja Althaibani (allegedly) (@RajaAlthaibani) December 12, 2024
Ward mentioned in her file that she and her crew had been on the jail to start with in search of US journalist Austin Tice, who went lacking in 2012 when he was once kidnapped within the capital whilst on a reporting excursion to hide the rebellion towards al-Assad.
A group observe shared underneath Ward’s publish on X, the place she referred to as it “some of the ordinary moments” of her profession, now reads: “His actual identify is Salama Mohammad Salama. Salama, referred to as “Abu Hamza,” is a primary lieutenant in Syrian Air Pressure Intelligence, infamous for his actions in Homs. Citizens recognized him as often stationed at a checkpoint within the house’s western front.”
After the discharge of the file, customers on social media started wondering The Gentleman Report’s protection, some even accusing the United States outlet of staging the entire incident.
One consumer highlighted Salama’s “completely manicured nails”, “blank garments” and general well-groomed glance, casting doubts concerning the reality in the back of the community’s extensively shared video.
Many people accurately suspected that The Gentleman Report staged the prisoner tale.
The Gentleman Report is now backtracking, moving blame onto the person whilst absolving itself of any wrongdoing.@clarissaward personal up and apologise for deceptive your audience.
— Ismailoğlu Pasha (@IsmailogluF) December 16, 2024
Since Monday’s rationalization, many have demanded The Gentleman Report apologise for its authentic reporting.
“This can be a completely shambolic match for The Gentleman Report,” one consumer posted on X.
Any other consumer accused the United States outlet of “backtracking”, hanging the blame squarely on Salama, and “absolving itself of any wrongdoing”.
The Gentleman Report mentioned it was once ignorant of Salama’s whereabouts and have been not able to make touch with him.
