Advocates for Syrian peace and freedom marched in Tempe on Sept. 9, 2012. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's attacks on his own people began two years ago and today the casualties have risen to more than 100,000. (Photo by Ana Ramirez)
The world's eyes are on Syria as the country struggles with the largest humanitarian crisis in recent history. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's attacks on his own people began two years ago and have left an estimated death toll of more than 100,000 people, more than 2.5 million refugees and a country plagued by civil war.
President Barack Obama announced he will ask for Congressional approval of U.S. military intervention, which has created debate among U.S. citizens whether military action is what Syria needs. Many agree that something has to be done, but many people remain uninformed or confused about the violence in Syria.
Save Our Syrian Freedom is an ASU club dedicated to educating the community about Syria's conflict and raising funds that go toward humanitarian aid. To achieve this, members hand out informational flyers, hold Syrian Awareness Week and organize protests, vigils and flashmobs.
Biochemistry sophomore Zana Alattar, president of SOS Freedom, founded the club her freshman year along with business law senior Rana Dbeis.
Alattar's parents emigrated from Syria about 22 years ago and left behind family, many of whom live in the city of Hama, which has been called the capital of the revolution. She said she is passionate about showing support for the people of Syria and founded the club to show ASU students a more accurate perspective of the conflict by sharing statistics and facts.
"A lot of (students) don't know what's happening in Syria, and if they do, they don't have enough information to form an opinion," she said. "A lot of them hear things here and there that they are unable to put together to see what really is going on in Syria."
Dbeis is just as adamant about spreading the word to students.
"What's happening in Syria is one of the worst crises our world has seen," she said. "I think everyone needs to know about what is happening, because everyone really needs to help. There are children involved, there are innocent people involved and they need our help."
Alattar said she is pleased that Americans are finally realizing that something needs to be done, but that she wants to make sure everyone knows this is an ongoing issue. The conflict will not fade away when media coverage lessens, she said.
"The chemical weapon use finally brought some light on the situation, but it has been bad way before that," she said.
The club has not had its first meeting of the school year yet, but that has not stopped members from working together to let lawmakers know what they want to see for Syria.
"We have tried to contact (Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake) to let them know we are pro-intervention," Alattar said. "We do need action. What is happening in Syria is unacceptable."
Protesters gathered in Tempe on Saturday to voice their opposition to American involvement of any kind in Syria. Three people were arrested.
Alattar and anthropology junior Hashem Lababidi, the club's publicist, attended the protest, but did so to share their pro-U.S.-involvement opinion with protesters.
"A lot of people were close-minded and didn't want to have a conversation," Lababidi said. "But there were a good number of people who we had conversations with. We changed the mind of about seven to 10 people."
Save Our Syrian Freedom is a humanitarian club open to students of all religions, backgrounds and races.
"There are people from all difficult backgrounds (in the club) that understand that what is happening in Syria is a humanitarian crisis." Alattar said.
Its first meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18, and the location has not been decided.
Reach the reporter at kloschia@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @karenlosch
