Khaled KHALIFA Two days ago, Khaled Khalifa sent me his address below in Arabic. He needed it to be translated into French and English for starters. His aim was for it to reach as many people as possible. Less than 48 hours later, I find his address on @arablit’s blog, and I receive an e-mail from Transworld, his publisher in the UK. I know the internet sometimes makes wonders. But I’m still amazed at his voice being heard!

This disappointing attitude of the regime characterized the scene of a strange Syrian surrealism.The observer has the feeling to read a long and repetitive novel in which are reproduced the same mechanical and foolish scenes and actions of the regime. On the other hand, instead, we find the thuwar (the revolutionaries, ed.) constituting the bright party, with songs and dances borrowed from the rich Syrian tradition. The Syrian people has fueled this revolution with a river of blood paid daily by flocks fallen, among the best sons of Syria, and continues to pay this high price, after waiting in vain for an international rescue.

There is an exaggerated fear of democracy, but democracy is in fact the ultimate and ideal solution for protecting all minorities. During the last three months the Syrians have proved that they are not going to embark on the path of sectarian violence despite attempts to incite it. This is a truth that everyone must understand, and Syrian history bears eloquent witness to this fact.

Sindbad editions (Actes Sud), specializing in the translation of modern Arabic literature, has just published a book that is very relevant in the challenging times through which Syria is going at this very moment.

“The regime is still the ’80s, the Cold War, and treats us like a herd of sheep who do not deserve to make demands of freedom. The president, whom all called ‘young’, has chosen to refer to that past, and lost credit. ”

he president is not the young man who was said to have modern and reformist tendencies, but a dictator like the others, unable to understand what was happening in front his eyes, ready to kill half of his people to remain in power, thinking he is the only one to have the right to decide what reforms the country needs and when to grant them to his subjects as a reward.