Update: ‘Gay Girl in Damascus’ Admits Entire Story Was a Hoax
- Posted on June 12, 2011 at 10:51pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
A fake picture of the missing blogger, now found to be a hoax perpetrated by a man.
CAIRO (The Blaze/AP) — A new entry Sunday in a blog purportedly by a lesbian Syrian-American living in Damascus asserted that the entire saga was a hoax, supposedly written by a man.
The post, which came days after an entry saying the blogger had been arrested, was signed by “Tom MacMaster” in Istanbul, Turkey.
In it, the author says the narrative was fictional but insists it “created an important voice for issues I feel strongly about.”
It says the author never expected so much attention:
On Tuesday, a blog post at the same site supposedly written by the woman’s cousin said she had been detained in Damascus after weeks on the run. The story unraveled quickly after a woman in Britain said the photos on the Facebook account of the blogger known as Amina Arraf were actually of her. The Associated Press reported her disappearance, confirmed by an activist in Damascus, but reporters in Virginia then could find no trace of Arraf or her family.
The author of the blog post on Sunday titled it “Apology to readers” but wrote “I do not believe that I have harmed anyone.” There was no listing for MacMaster in Istanbul.
In the post purportedly by Arraf’s cousin, Rania Ismail, it said Arraf was last seen Monday being bundled into a car by three men in civilian clothes as she was on her way to meet someone at the activist Local Coordination Committees. Ismail said a friend accompanying her was nearby and saw what happened.
A reporter for The Associated Press, who maintained a monthlong email correspondence with someone claiming to be Arraf, found the writer seemed very much like a woman in the midst of the violent change gripping Syria. The writer spoke about friends in Damascus, and outlined worries about her father and hopes for the future of her country.
In the emails, the person acknowledged fudging some details of escaping from Syrian security officials to protect herself and her family, and painted a harrowing picture of fleeing her home.
Jelena Lecic, the woman whose photos were linked to Arraf’s Facebook profile, said the London woman first learned her likeness was being used when it was linked to article about Arraf in the Guardian newspaper, her spokesman has said.
The spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
Comments (41)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 590 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
JustJP
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 10:43pmGays always need attention. 1% demand 99% pay attention to them
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:08pmLets help the marxist out:
Report Post »He harmed his wife and family.
He harmed his office.
He harmed his character.
He harmed decency and integrity.
He harmed his Country.
And its not exactly what he did that was particularily harmful.
Its that, like a typical regressive, he feels entitled to suffer no consequences for his actions.
In life there are the decent and the indecent.
A decent man would’ve immediately resigned.
Whyismynamealwaystaken
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 5:02pmTime for a Weiner roast! What a perverted jerk, he could always become a catholic priest.
Report Post »lijjo
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 5:00pmBecause liberals live in hypothetical world and not in reality.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 2:25pmShe should be flogged with a wet noodle.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:44pmWonder if Obama will ever admit his stories are a hoax? My thought process tells me this admittance will never come and there will be many hoazes by others to keep his hoazes going until destruction is complete.
Report Post »Seabee79
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 10:25amI’m surprised she is still alive.
Report Post »Center right
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:22amLiberal do not thinking being a lier matters, does this surprise anyone.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 5:51ammaybe it is rose-ellen on the blog.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 5:05amOh, and just in case you don’t know why yet. Nobody cares about any muslim any where any place. That’s it.
While you haven’t figured out that all muslims either support or commit terrorism and murder by being muslim, the rest of us have.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 5:03amI didn’t read this “story” the first time. Don’t worry about it. Nobody cared.
Report Post »His Lamb is Satanic
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 2:17amTo hell with moose limbs and queers.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:24amExcuse Me Who you Harmed….. was Truth Telling.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 12:41amPeople are really being killed , tortured and mutilated and this was just a big chuckle haha!!!!!!
Report Post »jim
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 12:09amShe’s worthy of joining the Democrats in Congress.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:38pmI don’t care. People get **** all over the world every day. Gay girls in Damascus are waaaay low on my radar.
Report Post »Quack Addict
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:14pmThat’s okay Tom, most of what Scientists write about evolution is fiction too.
Report Post »mr.goodvibe
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:14pmAnd I almost felt sorry for her too!
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:11pmEvery time you vote for a Liberal Democrat – a puppy dies
True story
check it out on Snopes -
http://www.snopes.com/yesitistruethatwhenyouvotedemocratyouarekillingpuppies
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:50amOh Eric – anyone can tell that is a fake page – but I have heard that every time someone votes for a far right conservative that a baby kitten dies!!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-13z
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 5:45amnoooo, you are both wrong, every time someone votes for a democrat an unborn baby dies!
Report Post »alr79
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:42amIf only that were true, I would have alot less strays around the house.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:57amIf it were true, our taxes would be lower.
I’d have fewer stray children running about. (bad dead-baby joke)
I’d have fewer stray cats – my steamroller is too slow to catch them all. (dead cat joke)
Seriously, thouth,
This 24/7 news cycle we live in is dangerous.
Remember how many on here were criticizing theblaze.com for not running the weiner story?
Well, they were/are just behaving as true journalists are supposed to behave.
They require multiple sources – I think they triple-source every story.
The Damascus girl is just another example of ratings-based-media gone awry.
We need more honest, fact-based media.
We need more honest PEOPLE in office – not more of the same self-serving career-minded attorney-turned-politicians.
We need more RELUCTANT candidates like Christie and West – men who WOULD be good, but who do not seek the power – men we must convince to serve us.
(Now, don‘t go hatin’ on me for sayin’ “men”; I use standard English; the masculine pronoun is used when the gender is unknown.)
I take it back, go ahead and hate on me. I don’t have to explain myself to anybody.
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:10pmAnother democrat born every minute…
Report Post »dbjr1958
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:52pmBrother they aren’t born they are hatched!
Report Post »dbjr1958
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:54pmBrother they are not born they are hatched
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:01amYes, and they’re neither born NOR hatched in TURKEY, as they’re an AMERICAN political party.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 2:06am@dbjr1958
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:52pm
Brother they aren’t born they are hatched!
dbjr1958
Report Post »Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:52pm
Brother they aren’t born they are hatched
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I read an echo!
chips1
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 10:59pmIt has Weinner written all over it.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:05pmThe author of the blog post on Sunday titled it “Apology to readers” but wrote “I do not believe that I have harmed anyone.”
Report Post »———–
Weener believes he didn’t harm anyone either.
But it doesn’t really matter what a sociopath lying muslim believes anyway
Tankertony
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:13pmFigures. The whole godless left agenda is a lie.
Report Post »They’ll use anyone and anything to further their poisonous cause.
A tiger is a tiger. Evil is evil.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:15pm@Blazers:
I know this is off topic, the Sydne Morning Herald has announced that ChristChurch, New Zealand has been hit with two moderate quakes – 6.0 and 5.5 according to preliminary measurments.
Please pray for their safety of those in the region.
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:24pmYep. Who cares about the little lie; that’s not the point! Promoting your agenda is.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:31pmTankertony
Report Post »Figures. The whole godless left agenda is a lie.
—————-
Speaking of which, did you know that
Fedia Hamdi‘s slap which sparked a revolution ’didn‘t happen’ ?
Quote
It was the slap that started a revolution. When the Tunisian street trader Mohamed Bouazizi, 26, was slapped in the face by a female municipal inspector last December, he burned himself alive in protest and sparked a wave of anti-government riots that engulfed the Arab world……………..
…………………Who does she blame? “The media – for me, that is the root of the problem. Not so much the Tunisian media, because they came under pressure from the government, but the reaction of the international media shocked me because they have a reputation for honesty.”
Endquote
Linky
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/23/fedia-hamdi-slap-revolution-tunisia
Robert-CA
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 11:31pm@ SNOWLEOPARD
Thanks I’ve just checked it :
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc000466f.php
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:00am@CHEEZWHIZ
Report Post »Who exactly did Anthony Weiner harm again?
Showtime
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 2:04am“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!” (sic) ~ Sir Walter Scott
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 2:10amThe Third Archon
Report Post »Who exactly did Anthony Weiner harm again?
—————–
1. Everyone who works to pay for his lifestyle
2. Everyone whose money he feels entitled to loot on behalf of marxists
3. Everyone who is negatively affected by his votes in Congress
to name just a few ….
streetrodder
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 7:00am@The Third Arcon, How about his wife and family.
Report Post »Patrick in AZ
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 12:06pm@Snow – so there are earthquakes in New Zealand and the doomsday pastor just suffered a stroke?
Report Post »IvanK
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 3:33pmTypical Liberal BS. Making up stories and putting them out as real. This has much the same effect as blacks burning down their own churches to lay blame on others and draw attention to “their plight”.
Report Post »