Published April 1, 2011

Tik Root, a 21-year-old Middlebury College junior, was released today after being held by authorities in Syria for two weeks. While studying there, Root was apparently arrested by the Syrian regime as he watched a large anti-government protest.

Tik Root (Facebook)

For over a week, Root’s friends and family were left without word from him and without knowledge of his condition. On Saturday, to their relief, Root’s family was notified that he was in the custody of Syrian officials. Today, he was released.

For two weeks, Syria has been gripped by “an extraordinary wave” of anti-government dissent.

Today on WBUR we also heard similar stories. Two of the New York Times journalists kidnapped by Gadhafi’s forces in Libya were interviewed on Morning Edition and on Here & Now, respectively.