Yassin al-Haj Saleh

Shortly after the start of his exile in Turkey in October 2013, Yassin al Haj Saleh started discussing the idea of establishing a cultural center in Istanbul with Syrian writers, artists and intellectuals and in collaboration with their Turkish counterparts. As a result of this initiative, Hamisch Syrian Cultural House in Istanbul was established in March 2014.

Hamisch (‘margin’ in Arabic) is an independent space of cultural production and collaboration among local and Syrian artists, writers and intellectuals living in Istanbul in order to challenge the ghettoization of Syrians in Turkey. To serve this purpose, Hamisch has cooperated with various cultural centers in Istanbul, has organised bilingual panels, a summer lecture series, has participated in major film festivals and runs a weekly bilingual radio program to discuss issues related to Syria and Syrian refugees.

The fellowship has contributed to the development of an Open University where Syrian and Turkish academics, writers and artists could produce and disseminate knowledge on topics ranging from feminism, women’s rights and social movements, citizen journalism, social histories of cities in Syria.