A moment in the history of journalism was undoubtedly written in Syria. Or rather filmed. A crew from American television CNN filmed the release of a Syrian prisoner, detained for three months in one of the secret prisons of the fallen regime of Bashar al-Assad, overthrown by a coalition of “Islamist rebels”.
The scene takes place as chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward explores with her team, guided by rebel troops, a secret prison in Damascus, it is explained in the report. They are therefore faced with a closed cell door, of which a fighter breaks the lock with his firearm.
Inside the dark windowless room, and under a pile of blankets emerges, after several seconds and attempts at communication, a man, who immediately raises his arms. He then explains that he has been incarcerated for three months, comes from Homs, and has spent the last four days without water or food. Once released into the open air, walking with difficulty supported by two soldiers, the ex-prisoner learns that the regime has fallen. Incredulous, he then kisses the rebel on the forehead.
They were looking for an American journalist, detained in Syria
If some Internet users question the authenticity of this report, indicating in particular that this journalist had already been suspected, without this being proven, of having falsified a report on the border between Israel and Gaza, recalls France Info. CNN for its part gave more details on the conditions of production of this report filmed in Damascus.
Our file on the fall of Bashar al-Assad
The 24-hour news channel’s team “was searching for American journalist Austin Tice in one of Syria’s many secret prisons, CNN senior reporter Clarissa Ward and her team – producer Brent Swails and cameraman Scott McWhinnie – (when) they made this startling discovery deep inside the Syrian Air Force intelligence headquarters,” CNN said.