Yassin al-Haj Saleh

Yassin al-Haj Saleh is one of Syria’s most prominent intellectuals and political dissidents. In 1980, while studying medicine in Aleppo University, he was arrested by Hafez al-Assad regime because of his political activism. He remained in prison for 16 years (1980–1996). Yassin al-Haj Saleh writes on political, social and cultural subjects relating to Syria and the Arab world. He has authored and edited five books about Syria. He is a co-founder of the Syrian online periodical “al-Jumhuriya” and the Syrian Cultural House in Istanbul “Hamisch”. He is a recipient of the Prince Claus Award for 2012.