Accounts and pages on social media platforms have circulated a video clip whose publishers claim it documents Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa requesting “captive women” (sabaya) and female abductees.
The Kashaf team monitored the circulating video clip, and by referring to previous verification efforts and conducting a reverse search, it became clear that the claim is misleading and that the content of the clip had been distorted out of its real context. The video is old and dates back to the period before Ahmad al-Sharaa assumed the presidency in Syria. The original clip clearly shows that the discussion concerned a request for an “armored vehicle” for field use, not a “captive woman” or female abductees as promoted by the publishing accounts.
Why is this claim misleading?
Distortion and falsification of audio content: The old video clip was exploited by distorting the spoken words in it to convey meanings contrary to the truth, with the aim of tarnishing the image of the political figure and stirring public opinion through fabricated accusations of requesting “captive women and abductees,” whereas the original recording proves that the request was limited to logistical reinforcements represented by an armored vehicle.
