Luai Abdul Hakim Al-Amir, a 40-year-old Arabic language teacher, traveled to Syria to spend summer holidays at home with his family, but he was arrested by the Syrian security agents on Aug. 7 in a village 20 km away from Homs. The teachers and students saw footage of him being tortured by the Syrian security forces on YouTube.

Al-Amir's father said his son was killed six days after his arrest. "His only crime was that he came from Saudi Arabia and that he was bearded," the father said.

School principal Adnan Al-Naasan said Al-Amir, who left behind six children, had worked in the school for more than 18 years and was loved and respected by both the teachers and students.

"I advised him not to travel to Syria in these difficult days, but he said he had to go because he was missing his family," the principal said.

Al-Naasan said when he telephoned Al-Amir's wife to inquire about him, she asked him to watch the video on YouTube. "I was really shocked and saddened to see his dead body there," he added.