DAY 237 - NOVEMBER 13, 2011
Reports have begun to surface about Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's security forces arresting doctors and pharmacists who have been supplying medical treatment to protesters at state hospitals. The city of Homs is pummeled with tank fire and heavy artillery, causing the most destruction in one location to date. As a punishment for repeated human rights violations, Syria is suspended from the Arab League. Hundreds of thousands of supports of the Syrian government have turned up in Latakia, hometown of embattled president Bashar Al Assad, to rally against the decision of the Arab League. Consequently, security forces during the night have conducted early morning crackdowns on thousands of homes known to be safehouses for opposition leaders. Syria Human Rights Watch condemns the crackdowns, but their calls fall deaf on the international community. Less than a month has passed after the Libyan Civil War, which culminated in rebel victory when Muammar Gaddafi was killed on October 20th. Invigorated by the outcome in Libya, Free Syrian Army rebels are amassing in droves to continue the liberations of the Arab Spring.
Your sleep patterns in the cell have been drastically affected by the lack of sunlight. You are deeply weakened by the lifestyle in the dark. The helplessness you feel when you think about your family in Aleppo is crippling. You are beginning to lose hope if you don't do something soon. In addition, Assad's security guards keep you intentionally underfed so you remain strengthless. Your quarters are inhabited by people from all over Syria, mostly activists, but some innocents like you. There are also some women from Iraq and Turkey in the cell next to you. One woman from Iraq, Aasfa, tells you the regime is holding her children somewhere. By her count, she's been separated from them for over two months. She doesn't even know why she is here. She tells you it isn't going to be long before she tries to escape. She's out of options, she says, and you agree with her. Through the bars of the cell you tell her that if she has any ideas, you'd be open to hearing them now.