Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

As freedom seeking Syrians and Syrian Americans, we were disturbed by the news that our friend Obada Mzaik, a Syrian American citizen, was illegally detained at Damascus airport, shortly after his arrival to Damascus on Jan/ 03/2012 coming from the U.S.

Obada Mzaik is 21 year, U.S. born American citizen of Syrian Descent, Studying Civil Engineering at AlYarmouk University- Damascus, Syria.

Obada was detained by Syrian security forces at Damascus Airport, shortly after his arrival to Damascus, from Michigan; U.S. where he was visiting his family. He stayed in Michigan for four months; during that time he was enrolled in Oakland community college in Detroit suburbs, studying English.

As stated by Obada's relatives, Obada was taken by the security forces to an unknown destination.

Obada’s family were unable to communicate with him since his arrival to Damascus, and were denied any further information about him. The only fact they know is that he was detained by Security service agents in the airport and then was transferred to an unknown destination by the next day.

no charges or information were provided by the security officials against Obada.

As Syrians looking for freedom, we are outraged by the obscure circumstances surrounding Obada’s arrest, and we express our deep concern over his safety in the Syrian regime's custody.

We Ask the U.S. Department of state to press over the Syrian authority for the immediate and unconditional release of Obada Mzaik from detention in Syria.