Activist Qusai Zakarya, prominent in publicising the situation of civilians in the besieged Damascus suburb of Moadamiya, has arrived in Lebanon after he was held for 17 days by Syrian security services.

Zakarya highlighted the 15-month siege on Moadamiya by regime forces in what he called a “surrender or starve campaign”. At the end of 2013, he went on a 33-day hunger strike to raise attention to conditions and attacks by the Syrian military.

In January, local opposition and regime officials negotiated a cease-fire which allowing limited deliveries of aid. Under pressure because of his criticism of Damascus, Zakarya handed himself over to authorities on February 2.

The activist was held under tight security in a Damascus hotel. On arrival in the Lebanese capital Beirut, he said, “They treated me in a good way; they did their best to make me feel comfortable. I was surprised. Very surprised.”

Zakarya continued, “They are doing their best to tell the world that this time they mean it. And they know that whatever they do, the world is watching.”

Despite the treatment — the activist said he had put on 11 kilograms (24 pounds) since leaving Moadamiya — Zakarya said he had to leave Syria:

I went out because I was getting a lot of threats from inside and outside that I should either shut up, or I will be silenced for good.

I was faced with two choices: Stay and risk being killed inside the town which would break my heart, even while I was dead, or to have the courage to go outside and see them face to face.

Zakarya said he was not exiling himself from activism, “I know I am fighting for a noble cause and I won’t give up for a million years….I am trying to work out what this new era is and what to do next.”

(Featured Photo: Zakarya in Moadamiya, November 2013)