Syria what you need to know

Ahmad Biasi is fast becoming the human face of the troubles in Syria.  He posted a YouTube video last month proving that he was Syrian and was there when security forces entered the town of Al-Bayda and began a series of brutal beatings.  The state had claimed that the footage of beatings was not even from Syria and was instead from Iraq.  Biasi took to the powerful tool that is the internet in his anger to contradict this statement.

His actions, though brave, could have cost him his life.  Later reports stated that he had been arrested after posting the video and was being tortured in captivity to the point where he was electricuted and had lost consciousness.  Then a state film appeared of Biasi claiming that he was well treated and not tortured.  This could be propaganda but it shot the state in the foot.  Essentially they were admitting that the events did take place on Syrian soil after all.

I know you will all agree that we want this young man to be safe and there is a real worry about him.  I think what this shows is that there is a real want of change in Syria and some brave people who want peace and justice.  The use of YouTube is another example of how the internet and forms of social networking (as YouTube has almost become) are the most powerful tool.  Revolutions can be won or lost by the power of the internet and hopefully in the case of this young man, will protect him too.