Fact-Checking Ahmad Hassoun's Alleged Asylum in France: The Truth Behind the Strasbourg Photos

Recently, social media users circulated photos of Ahmad Hassoun, the former Mufti of the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime, claiming they were taken recently "after he arrived in the French city of Strasbourg as a refugee, following his threats to Europe with suicide bombers." The claim refers to a previous statement made by Hassoun in 2011, where he said, "I say it to all of Europe and America, we will prepare martyrs who are now with you if you bomb Syria or bomb Lebanon."

Refute the claim

The "Verify-sy" team conducted research to verify the authenticity of the photos and the accompanying claim, revealing that the photos are real but outdated, and the claim accompanying them is fabricated.

The research findings confirmed that the photos were indeed taken in Strasbourg, France, specifically on one of the streets leading to the city’s cathedral, which is one of its main tourist attractions.

By comparing the current view of the area, as seen on Friday, December 20, through photos specifically taken for "Verify-sy" by one of the volunteer colleagues, a noticeable difference was found in the building facades along the street, where Christmas decorations have been displayed since the beginning of this month.

The analysis of the photo's metadata, which consists of hidden information attached to digital files such as images and videos, providing precise details about their source, showed that the photos were taken on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, using a Canon PowerShot A550 camera.

Where is Ahmad Hassoun Now?

A source close to Ahmad Hassoun, the former Mufti of the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime, confirmed that Hassoun is still in the home of a relative in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and has not left Syria as of the time this article was published. The source also affirmed the accuracy of the findings from "Verify-sy" team’s analysis of the photos and the time they were taken, explaining that they were from an official visit Hassoun made in his capacity as the Mufti of the ousted Syrian regime. Additionally, the source provided another photo from the same visit to further confirm the accuracy of the information.