You see, my name is Ashraf Almoukdad from Houran Syria and I live in the beautiful New Zealand and my wife is from here.

We have been married for 13 years and she has never said some thing like that before. She loved the fact I am Syrian and she is proud mother of 2 beautiful Syrian named boys. She even knows more about the tourist and religion sites in Syria than me. So what brought this about?

She has lately joined Amnesty international and because she is married to me she took special interest in Syria . Every evening she sits in front the computer and reads all that is available about Syrian political prisoners : Their numbers and their treatments and the conditions they are held under.

Part of her volunteering work is to write to the Syrian authorities to condemn their treatments and to demand their release. I keep telling her "there is no use, the regime in Syria is built on the fear of the people. For a corrupt minority to keep themselves in control they do the
only thing they understand… Violence , death and jails.”

“ They are not about to release those tens of thousands of political prisoners because you and thousands of extremely well meaning people like you write them emails "

Slowly and surly hear volunteer work started keeping her awake at night and specially when she reads very horrific stories about those prisoners.

I have asked her to stop doing this, since it has started effecting our life , but she stubbornly refuses.

She feels personally responsible for those poor prisoners.

She asked me once how many you think the ruling family could muster to keep all of the 17 million Syrians quiet and accepting their absolutely horrific treatments they are getting?

I said the whole minority numbers is about 10% of the populations and I am sure not all of them are happy with this Assad family. She then looked me in the eyes and asked me the Question: Are all of you 17 million Syrians cowards ?

What can I answer her ? Can somebody else help me?