Demonstrators Shed Light on Syrian Suffering

Dozens of people gathered Thursday in Royal Oak as part of a nationwide series of vigils to shed light on violence in Syria.

Drivers honked as they passed demonstrators carrying signs and luminaries and waving Syrian and United States flags at the corner of Main and Fourth streets.

"We are here in memory of the people who have been killed in recent weeks," said Lena Masri, a staff attorney for the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter. Syria has been embroiled in deadly civil strife as President Bashar al-Assad's government has struggled to maintain control during a brutal crackdown on civilian protesters.

"The regime is one of the most repressive in not just the Mideast, but in the world," Masri said. "The people of Syria are asking for basic rights and the freedom that we have here."

She added that there has been a media blackout in Syria, which has prevented the international community from seeing what's happening inside the country, and that food, water and electricity are in short supply.

Those were facts to which Ammar Khanshour could attest.

The Detroit resident has been unable to speak with his family members in Douma, Syria, for the past four days. Prior to that, their conversations were brief, as his loved ones feared their calls were being monitored by the government, he said.

"My city right now is under siege," said Khanshour, who has only lived in the United States for a year and a half. "There is no Internet, no phones. They've even cut electricity in some parts of the city."

Three weeks ago, he received word that his 15-year-old nephew had been detained by security forces and beaten, then released after two days.

"At first I was angry," Khanshour said. "Being here, I can't go back because they're screening everyone. So I felt there was nothing I could do. So I've been trying to go to demonstrations."

David Ostrovski of Royal Oak, who happened to walk through the rally on his way to meet friends at , said the demonstration would inspire him to learn more about the daily headlines he sees about Syria.

"You feel for the people over there," he said. "It's unfortunate and you hope that one day they have the freedoms we have."