Exiled Syrian Author: The Revolution is Not Dead

Syrian writer and activist Yassin al-Haj Saleh states the fight for democracy in Syria continues, despite a devastating civil war. In an interview with NHK World in Japan, the exiled intellectual argued that the Syrian people's desire for freedom remains strong. He was in Japan to promote the translation of his book. Saleh spent 16 years as a political prisoner in Syria. After his release, he became a leading voice in the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's government. He was forced to flee the country in 2013. He now lives in exile but continues to write. He says the original goals of the revolution—freedom and democracy—are still alive for many Syrians, even after years of conflict and foreign intervention. "The revolution is an idea. It's very difficult to kill an idea," Saleh told NHK.