Defecting Syrian propagandist says his job was ‘to fabricate’

CNN reports: For years, Abdullah al-Omar rubbed shoulders with some of the most powerful people in Syria.

In case there is any doubt, he is quick to show photos in his phone as proof.

Scores of photographs show the corpulent Syrian beaming and shaking hands with government ministers, foreign dignitaries, and even the Syrian president.

“He knew me by name,” al-Omar said, pointing to a photo of himself standing with Bashar al-Assad. “One day we were sitting at a table and he fed me with his own hand and said to me, ‘You love food since you are from Aleppo.’ Then he said to his escort, ‘Take special care of Abdullah al-Omar because he loves food and his stomach.'”

Al-Omar claims that for five years he worked in the press office of the presidential palace in Damascus, as part of a 15-person team under the direction of long-time government spokeswoman and presidential adviser Bouthaina Shabaan.

Al-Omar claims that for five years he worked in the press office of the presidential palace in Damascus, as part of a 15-person team under the direction of long-time government spokeswoman and presidential adviser Bouthaina Shabaan.

Until he defected and fled the Syrian capital last month, al-Omar said, the bulk of his work consisted of lying.

“Our job was to fabricate, make deceptions and cover up for Bashar al-Assad’s crimes,” he said.

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