Fact Check: News Channels Claim Syrian Man is a Survivor of Assad's Prisons Who Lost His Memory in Saidnaya Prison

Refute the claim

This investigation was translated using artificial intelligence,the original language is Arabic

News satellite channels broadcasted a video clip that went viral on social media, coinciding with the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria on December 8th. The video shows a young man with a slim build, shaved head, and speech difficulties, claiming to be a survivor from the regime's prisons. He alleged that he lost his memory and forgot his name during the time he spent as a detainee, having been subjected to severe torture.

However, this young man has a different story. A relative of the young man came forward and clarified that his name is Mahmoud Fansa Klawi, he is 21 years old, and he lives with his family in the Al-Sha'abah Al-Jadidah area in Aleppo. The relative stated that the young man was never a detainee. The source also revealed that Mahmoud suffers from a congenital disorder and is considered to have special needs, which is the sole reason for the condition he appeared to be in in the circulated video, along with the fabricated information surrounding him.

The relative further explained that Mahmoud went missing from his home on November 29th, before the liberation of Aleppo and the fall of Assad's regime. The family was unable to locate him at the time due to the military operations and the curfew that followed after Assad’s escape. A search using relevant keywords on social media revealed posts that corroborated the source's account, with local groups sharing reports of the young man’s disappearance and urging anyone who finds him to contact them.

As the military operations reached Damascus and the prisons were opened, the video of the young man went viral, and his family was able to contact the source that posted it. Mahmoud’s brother traveled to Damascus to bring him back home. The family stated that they were unaware of how Mahmoud reached Damascus or the circumstances that led to his shaved head.

In the midst of the media chaos that accompanied the fall of the regime and the spread of numerous videos and statements, the "Verify-sy" platform was able to confirm the falsehood of some of these materials and expose the fabrication of others. With the increasing spread of such videos and fabricated information, "Verify-sy" reiterates the importance of continuous verification of information, and the necessity of ensuring that no testimonies or statements are shared without confirming their accuracy, as they can have a negative impact on the credibility of what is true and the course of justice and accountability.

A statement issued by "Verify-sy" warns of the dangers of circulating media content that undermines efforts for justice and accountability