August 29, 2011 (Original Link – Muftah.org): Despite months of bloody uprisings, Syria’s Bashar Al-Assad remains steadfast in his repression of protesters. In the face of international pressure to stop the assault on citizens, consistent reports of large scale state sponsored violence have continued to emerge from cities such as Damascus, Homs, Hama, and Latakia. As the death toll continues to mount and the international community grapples with its stance on Syria, strong voices of dissent against the Assad government have emerged not only inside, but also outside the country. One such voice is that of Dr. Hazem Hallak, a scientist and researcher based in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.