Malek Wannous

Known for his ongoing efforts to address issues concerning democracy, human rights, and political conflict, Malek Wannous has been instrumental in furthering critical discussion of the current Syrian conflict. Wannous is a writer, journalist, and translator with numerous publications translated from English to Arabic, including Vittorio Arrigoni’s Gaza: Stay Human.

Since 2007, his writings and translations have appeared in various Lebanese and Syrian newspapers. Consequently, due to pressure from the Syrian government, Wannous was forced to publish his writings and translations in neighboring countries such as Lebanon and Golf countries. The target of pro-government forces, Malek Wannous received countless threats for his political writings, which would culminate in his arrest and month-long detention.

As the conflict in Syria escalated, so did the pressure on Wannous and his family. Constantly harassed and intimidated, he became a regular target for pro-government authorities in his city hoping to put an end to his critical writings.