Protest for Syria

Photos by: Krystal Northey

Roughly 100 people gathered outside City Hall on Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of violence in Syria.

Maj Abdulla braved frigid winter winds to protest the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Omar Samee stood by the road for the duration of the protest, prompting passing cars to "honk for Syria."

Abdul Habach came to Saturday's demonstration with his father and sister. Many protestors said they hoped the Canadian government would close the Syrian embassy in Ottawa to show support for the Syrian people.

An unnamed child carries the official flag of Syria. Many protestors did not want to share their names or their kids' names with the media for fear of being identified by the Syrian government, for this could cause their family back home to be persecuted.

Anas Habach, standing to the right of his daughter, said he has been coming to City Hall almost every Saturday with his sign since the violence in Syria began.

"The first time I wrote this sign, the number of people killed was 3,700," said Habach. "Now it's 11,000."

Saturday's demonstration was part of a "Global March for Syria" events that were held worldwide over the weekend.

Many demonstrators wore the green flag that has become the symbol of the Syrian revolution. Recent statistics released by the United Nations estimate more than 8,000 people have been killed by the ongoing violence in Syria.