Rare Torah Scroll Was Not Found in Assad’s Palace After Fleeing Syria

12th December 2024

Rare Torah Scroll Was Not Found in Assad’s Palace After Fleeing Syria

The video to be old and unrelated to Syria (X)

The Claim

a 500-year-old Torah scroll found in the basement of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad's presidential palace after Syrians stormed the palace in Damascus.

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REAL JEW

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Mark Baranov

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Rafi Farber

Emerging story

Social media users widely shared a video claiming to show a 500-year-old Torah scroll found in the basement of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad's presidential palace after Syrians stormed the palace in Damascus.

Israeli trolls also share the footage in the Hebrew language, claiming that the found scroll is evidence of “an ancient Jewish community in the country.”

A supporting image within the article body

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar investigated the viral footage and found the claim to be misleading.

After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the video to be old and unrelated to Syria.

Rare Torah Scroll Found in Tunisia, Not Syria

Contrary to social media users' claims, Syrian news outlets did not report on a rare Torah scroll found in the basement of Bashar al-Assad's palace after Syrians recently stormed the palace.

The video circulating online dates back to 2017 and is from Tunisia, not Syria. Attessia TV reported on the discovery of a “500-year-old Torah scroll” in Tunisia in March 2017.

Another Facebook account uploaded the same video report on March 11, 2017.

Tunisian Authorities Caught Smugglers of Rare Torah Scroll

On March 11, 2017, Tunisian authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle a rare Torah scroll out of the country, according to The Times of Israel.

Authorities caught members of a smuggling network after receiving information that the group intended to transfer the scroll to an unnamed European country.

Tunisian National Guard spokesman Khalifa Al-Shibani revealed the Torah scroll, believed to be made of ox skin, to the public during a press conference.

Al-Shibani described it as a “one-of-a-kind historical artifact.” Experts from Tunisia’s National Heritage Institute confirmed the scroll’s rarity, dating it to the 15th century.

Al-Shibani added, “The phenomenon of smuggling, looting, and destroying antiquities, as well as trafficking them illegally, has spread significantly in the country, especially after the 2011 revolution.”

Syrians Stroll Through Assad's Presidential Palace

Syrian opposition fighters took control of the presidential palace in Damascus after seizing the capital and ending the al-Assad family's 53-year rule.

State television broadcast a video statement on Sunday in which a group of men declared that President Bashar al-Assad had been overthrown and prisoners had been freed.

Syrians poured into the streets, celebrating with gunfire as opposition factions reached the capital. Crowds also gathered in Damascus squares, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag in scenes reminiscent of the early days of the Arab Spring uprising.

Russian media reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow early on Sunday, and the country granted him asylum “out of humanitarian considerations.”