Khaberni - A circulated picture on social media has fueled controversy over the relationship between Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji and Maher Al-Assad, brother of the former Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad, as she appeared with him in a close-up shot, reopening the speculation about the nature of their relationship.
In a decisive response, Lebanese journalist Nidal Al-Ahmadieh came forward to put an end to the controversy. She posted the circulated picture on her Instagram, confirming that it was completely fabricated and does not reflect reality at all, based on precise technical analysis that revealed clear indications of digital manipulation.
Al-Ahmadieh explained that the examination of the photo showed a clear difference in lighting between the two faces and bodies, in terms of light direction, intensity, and shadows, which is conclusive evidence of merging two images from different sources.
She also pointed out the mismatch of body angles in the seating position, shoulder directions, and hand placements, in addition to the misalignment of body lines geometrically, all of which are known signs of cutting and assembling processes.
She added that the shadows visible under the hands and around the waist are unrealistic and do not correspond with the general lighting of the picture, which suggests that some parts were added from other images.
She also highlighted a clear disparity in image quality, where part of it appears high-resolution while the other part looks blurry, which is impossible in an original single picture unless it has been digitally altered.
The analysis concluded that the picture is entirely forged, and its circulation aims to mislead and harm, considering it part of what she described as "targeted campaigns" against the Syrian actress.
Al-Ahmadieh urged Sulaf Fawakherji to retain her legal rights and pursue everyone involved in spreading this fabrication, noting that cybercrime laws in various countries criminalize the publication of composite images intended for defamation and subject the perpetrators to strict legal penalties.
It is worth noting that Sulaf Fawakherji had previously officially denied any relationship between her and Maher Al-Assad, confirming in a television interview that she had met him only once in her life and that the meeting was strictly professional, clarifying that he neither intervened nor helped her in any matter related to her artistic work.
She attributed what was rumored about her at the time to rumors fueled by her political stances supporting the Syrian regime.
