The Arab Spring has been sweeping across North Africa and the Middle East since December 2010 and the spring is still blooming in Yemen and Syria.

The people of Syria began their peaceful protest of Bashar Assad’s brutal regime in mid-March. Assad has been mercilessly murdering, torturing and arresting his own people, including children. The United Nations estimated 3,500 deaths since the uprising began eight months ago.

Dictators in North Africa and the Middle East have forced people to live in fear and silence. Americans can only imagine what this feels like, because our country gives us the freedom to voice our opinions without being killed or imprisoned.

Syrian-American junior biology major Lina Farhat, a personal friend, was raised in the U.S. Farhat is grateful she is given the right to speak her mind without the fear Syrians back home continue to live through.

“The Syrian people were provoked by the brutal and unjust treatment from the Syrian government and started protesting and speaking out against it,” Farhat said.

After living in fear for so long, the Syrian people decided enough was enough. The Arab League has demanded the Syrian government end violence against citizens, according to an article on CNN’s website.

Support from the international community is what the Syrian people need and want. If more countries voice their support for the Syrian people in their fight for freedom, then Assad’s grip on power will weaken.

Farhat said one of the main reasons the Syrian people are continually being killed is due to lack of awareness of the ongoing dire situation in Syria.

“The U.N. must step in and take the Assad regime down and hold them accountable for what has been happening under their rule,” Farhat said. “Support from Russia, India and Brazil for the Syrian government must also be brought to an end.”

The killing of innocent peaceful protesters should trigger immediate attention and help from the rest of the world. Not one human being should be killed unjustly, and while thousands in Syria are being killed, nothing is being done.

Not only should the U.N. get involved, but the International Criminal Court should definitely issue warrants for the arrest of Assad and any of his regime’s key players.

It may be hard to capture him considering the court issued an arrest warrant for Moammar Gadhafi, who the court failed to arrest prior to his death. This will still give the Syrians even more motivation to continue protesting until justice is served.

The Assad regime agreed to the Arab League’s proposal to stop all violence, release detainees, withdraw all armed forces and allow journalists in. Just two days later, reports of 12 to 23 civilian deaths came in, according to CNN’s website.

Due to Assad’s continuing resistance, the Arab League announced on Saturday to suspend Syria’s membership. With this suspension, Assad’s regime is beginning to become isolated, which is definitely good news for the Syrian people.

The Assad regime has proven time and time again it is corrupt and will not quit easily. But with continual support and efforts, the Syrian people have a real chance at victory.

“All actions possible that can end this must be taken, any aid that can be given should be,” Farhat said. “The U.N. can hold the Assad regime and all parties responsible for the killing and torture of people and can bring this injustice to an end.”

It is important to remember what Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

People should never stand by and watch while injustice is taking place, because the next people could always be us. This is not just about the Syrians – this is about humanity.

Marwa Diaf can be reached at [email protected]