Zeitoun is a Syrian-American man with a growing family and a thriving business in New Orleans. He comes from a high-achieving family who live all over the world. As a child, Zeitoun and his brothers were always around water, and after spending time at sea with his brother Ahmad, Zeitoun landed in Houston, TX, and then moved to New Orleans. There he met and married Kathy, an American woman who had converted to Islam as an adult. Zeitoun is a proud man, and is grateful for all that he’s achieved in his adopted city and country. He’s always striving to do good and to be a better person. This drive stems in part from his admiration of his brother Mohammed’s accomplishments as a world class ocean swimmer.

Zeitoun’s strong will and determination to help others help to set events in motion that will change his family’s lives forever. Arrested and convicted without trial, deprived of contact with his worried wife, Zeitoun begins to question the freedom and justice of his adopted country, and learns how easily those inalienable rights can be taken away.