Fact Check: Viral picture of CNN journalist surrounded by gunmen is from Syria, not Afghanistan
A picture of a hijab-clad woman sitting amidst a group of men carrying weapons is viral on social media. It is being claimed that it shows CNN chief
By Tejal Sinha Published on 31 Aug 2021 1:44 PM GMT
Hyderabad: A picture of a hijab-clad woman sitting amidst a group of men carrying weapons is viral on social media. It is being claimed that it shows CNN chief international correspondent Clarrisa Ward interviewing the Taliban leaders.
— Saganjot Singh | सगनजोत सिंघ (@SaganjotSingh) August 18, 2021
Fact Check
The claim is False.
NewsMeter performed a Google Reverse Image Search which directed us to a report by a US-based website `Wbur'. It carried the same image on February 20, 2012. It was headlined, 'Report From The Syrian Front Lines'.
We then found another report by Clarissa Ward on `Newslines magazine' on October 4, 2020. Clarissa had stated that "I reported from the Syrian capital when a peaceful protest movement became an armed insurgency."
We lastly found the same picture on Clarissa's verified Instagram handle which was uploaded on July 17, 2020. In the caption, she had mentioned that the picture was taken in Syria in 2012.