In July 2012, the UN estimated that over 120,000 people have left Syria since the beginning of the Syrian uprising. These persons have sought refuge mainly in neighbouring countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Among the civilians fleeing the conflict are dozens of human rights defenders and peaceful political activists, whose lives were directly threatened by the regime as a consequence of their legitimate activities in monitoring, communicating and denouncing the gravest human rights violations. We met with four such persons in Paris. They told us about their personal experiences and explained to us why they left Syria.