A man from the United States was in a Syrian prison for many months. He walked into Syria and got caught. Men with hammers helped him get out when rebels fought against the government. The rebels want to close bad prisons and find people who hurt prisoners. They want to bring justice. The man's name is Travis Timmerman. He was near Damascus when people found him.

Travis was missing since May. He was last seen in Budapest, Hungary. After the rebels took over Damascus, two men broke his prison door with a hammer. He was scared but then he saw there was no fighting. Travis left the prison with many people. He tried to go to Jordan. He was afraid but people helped him with food and a place to sleep. The United States government is trying to bring him back home.

Many prisoners are now free because the government fell. Videos show people coming out of small, dark cells. They were confused. Travis said he was okay. He had food and water. He talked to his family three weeks ago with a phone. He went to Syria for a religious trip. The United States is also trying to find another American, a journalist named Austin Tice. He was taken in 2012. Groups are looking for more prisoners and helping families find their loved ones.