Report
X post@Jéferfon Menezes1 source
True

Trust this. Syrian passport really uses an unedited stock photo of Damascus market with visible watermark and photographer name printed on it.

Why we say that

Syrian biometric passport carries unedited internet stock photo of Damascus Souq al-Hamidiyah with photographer name.

All three claims are confirmed by passport scans and the photographer's own post. The reel states exactly what happened without adding any false step.

Based on only a few sources, so read this as a first look, not the last word.

Reported 28 Aug 2026

@Jéferfon MenezesOpen X post

Claims

1 true · 2 unchecked

  • True

    The new Syrian biometric passport (issued from 2023) uses a stock photo of Damascus' Souq al-Hamidiyah market taken from the internet.

    What's actually true

    Wikipedia and scans confirm the 2023 biometric passport shows Souq al-Hamidiyah on pages 34-35. Photographer's post confirms his photo of the market appears on the passport.

  • Couldn't check

    The Syrian passport did not remove the watermark from the internet stock photo of the Damascus market.

    What's actually true

    Photographer's post states his photo with visible watermark appears on Syrian passports.

  • Couldn't check

    The Syrian passport now has the photographer's name (Waseem Asmar Photography) printed on it because the watermark was not removed.

    What's actually true

    Photographer's post states his full name Waseem Asmar Photography is written on the passport because his photo with watermark was used.

The full story, from the sources

In late 2016, Syrias Department of Immigration and Passports announced that it is planning to change to biometric passports. In early 2019, Syria announced that it is getting ready to release its new passport. - wilearn.ch In August 2023, Syria officially introduced the biometric passport. - en.wikipedia.org (2008-01-19) 2009-02-08 | secondary | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_Securities_Exchange | Damascus Securities Exchange. - en.wikipedia.org (2009-02-08) Syrian passport Updated on Apr 25, 2026 Edit Like Comment Share Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Sign in Issued by Syria Purpose Identification Type of document Passport Eligibility requirements Syrian citizenship The Syrian passport is issued to citizens of Syria for international travel. - Alchetron.com (2016-01-18) 2016-12-31 | secondary | https://www.almaghribtoday.net/en/83/syrian-passport-trade-becomes-unlikely-cash-cow-130621 | A couple of years ago it would be hard to imagine that a Syrian passport would actually be valuable, but a new industry of producing and selling fake Syrian passports has emerged. - almaghribtoday (2016-12-31)

From reporting

How it's framed (3)
Humor - Caption ends with HAHAHAAH and uses casual mocking tone Rapaz. To highlight the mistake.
Angry wording - Phrases like pegou uma imagem da internet and não tirou a marca d'água cast Syrian authorities as careless.
Loaded characterization - Frames the watermark issue as embarrassing and laughable through tone and HAHAHAAH.
Sources (8)
[1]social2024-12-15
facebook.com

صورتي و اسمي على جوازات السفر السورية!... بعد ما فتحت الصفحة خمسة و تلاتين... في صورة من تصويري... واسمي بالكامل مكتوب علي وسيم اسمر فوتوغرافي... سوق الحميدية

[2]reference2008-01-19
en.wikipedia.org

In August 2023, Syria officially introduced the biometric passport

[3]news report2016-01-18
Alchetron.com

Syrian passport Updated on Apr 25, 2026 Edit Like Comment Share Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Sign in Issued by Syria Purpose Identification Type of document Passport Eligibility requirements Syrian citizenship The Syrian passport is issued to citizens of Syria for international travel.

[4]news report2017-02-24
reloadinternet.com

At Reload Internet we guarantee that this will not happen to your application when you have your Syrian passport photo or visa photo taken by us.

[5]news report2016-12-31
almaghribtoday

2016-12-31 | secondary | https://www.almaghribtoday.net/en/83/syrian-passport-trade-becomes-unlikely-cash-cow-130621 | A couple of years ago it would be hard to imagine that a Syrian passport would actually be valuable, but a new industry of producing and selling fake Syrian passports has emerged.

[6]reference2024-11-06
commons.wikimedia.org

(and related page files) | Scans show interior pages including Damascus landmark spreads consistent with Wikipedia description of Souq al-Hamidiyah on pages 34-35

[7]news report
wilearn.ch

In late 2016, Syrias Department of Immigration and Passports announced that it is planning to change to biometric passports. In early 2019, Syria announced that it is getting ready to release its new passport.

[8]reference2009-02-08
en.wikipedia.org

2009-02-08 | secondary | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_Securities_Exchange | Damascus Securities Exchange

Notes on this check (6)
  • Video media unavailable
  • Image media unavailable
  • No speech transcript - analysis rests on caption on-screen text and frames
  • Dropped 2 support citation(s) for "The new Syrian biometric passport (issued from 2023) uses…" because the cited passages do not address the claim directly.
  • Dropped 1 support citation(s) for "The Syrian passport did not remove the watermark from the…" because the cited passages do not address the claim directly.
  • Dropped 1 support citation(s) for "The Syrian passport now has the photographer's name (Wase…" because the cited passages do not address the claim directly.

Checked against 1 source · 28 Aug 2026

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