At a time when world leaders are making a collective call for Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad to step down, a local man is opening up about the brutality he experienced during a recent trip back to his home country.
Hassan El Chami spent eight days in the unsettled nation, where human rights groups estimate near 2,000 protesters have died in their fight for democracy.
He says he was attacked by thugs and at one point was even arrested.
"Me going there was for me to find out the truth," explained the owner of a grocery store in south Edmonton.
"When you meet people and they tell you that we were hoping to die just to get rid of the torture you can imagine the level of torture they were having."
El Chami's story comes the same day world leaders in the West made an unprecedented appeal for the country's embattled leader to relinquish control.
The Americans have frozen all assets to Syria and the United Nations now says crimes against humanity have likely taken place within the country's borders.
"The transition to democracy in Syria has begun and it's time for Assad to get out of the way," said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
While few expect Assad to go quietly, the hope is world leaders have made it clear his regime is no longer part of the international community.
Canada, too, decried the violence on Thursday.
"The Syrian people have a right to decide for themselves the next steps of their future," said John Baird, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
For his part, El Chami says he is ready to sell his store and return his country, fighting for a cause he believes in.
"This is what I learned from being a Canadian - when you see there's a greater good you don't think about your safety you don't think about your life you don't think about anything," he said.
"You just want to help the people, you just want to go."
With Files from Scott Roberts
