Adnan Syed is Free For Now - Subject of Serial Podcast

Serial Adnan and Undisclosed
Serial, Adnan, and Undisclosed

This is fascinating. Adnan Syed, the subject of Serial's first season as a podcast, was just released from prison. The super hit true crime series, hosted by Sarah Koenig, brought attention to the case regarding the murder of Hae Min Lee. After Serial Season 1, Rabia, the childhood friend and lawyer that brought the story to Sarah initially, started her own podcast, Undisclosed. The HBO Series, The Case Against Adnan Syed was also prominent.

Update 9/20/22: Serial released a quick 15-minute episode, Mailchimp intro, and piano music included to strike up your nostalgia.

Update 9/21/22: Undisclosed re-released 3 previous episodes, but Rabia recorded a new introduction.

Update 9/22/22: The Case Against Adnan Syed HBO special will have a follow-up episode coming 2023. You might have seen an authorized camera crew following him.

Update 10/14/22: The State of Maryland has now dropped charges on Adnan Syed and he has been fully cleared thanks to DNA testing. Read more here.

Was Sarah there? Yes, she was, with the mic in hand.

Sarah Koenig is front and center with the mic

Was Rabia Chaudry there? Yes, she was. Remember, Rabia is the childhood friend and lawyer that brought the story to Sarah initially.

Rabia in magenta.

Lee O'Sanderlin from the Baltimore Sun had the play-by-play of the courtroom on this Twitter thread:

and summarized it in an article here:

Adnan Syed walks out of Baltimore courthouse after judge overturns his 1999 murder conviction
Adnan Syed, a Baltimore man whose legal saga spawned hit podcast “Serial,” is a free and innocent man. For now.

There was new evidence, new attorneys, and new laws in the last couple of years, that reopened the faulty case. AT&T's GPS tracking evidence was known to be faulty, citing the company itself, the officer's testimony also was not reliable due to other cases that he was involved in being thrown out, and a new Juvenile law in Maryland. Judge Phinn moved to vacate the current sentence and have Hamza on house detention until further notice.

Here is Rabia's video of Adnan grabbing some leftover dumplings.

The new episode on Serial's feed is out. Additionally, Undisclosed which was Rabia's activism podcast for the wrongfully accused released a new episode on September 15th talking about the potential of today and re-released 3 previous episodes with a new introduction update. Check them out below:

Critic Podcast Reviews - Serial
Serial is a podcast from Serial Productions, a New York Times company, hosted by Sarah Koenig. Serial unfolds one story - a true story - over the course of a whole season. The show follows the plot and characters wherever they lead, through many surprising twists and turns. Sarah won’t know what hap…
Critic Podcast Reviews - Undisclosed
The Undisclosed podcast investigates wrongful convictions, and the U.S. criminal justice system, by taking a closer look at the perpetration of a crime, its investigation, the trial, and ultimate verdict... and finding new evidence that never made it to court.

Among all of this, is the rift between Serial and Rabia. On Twitter comments and posts are among the criticism of Serial's reporting and lack of correction.

Of course, not lost in all this is Hae Min Lee and her family. We hope the murderer is caught with the correct investigation whether it's Hamza or another suspect.

We will update this page with more information as it comes in.

To the power of podcasts. #FreeAdnan #JusticeForHaeMinLee

Podcast Discovery