Contributor(s): Louay Hussein | Louay Hussein is one of Syria's leading intellectuals who has spent his life writing and publishing on political and social debates concerning Syria and the Arab world. He spent seven years in prison because of his views. After his release in 1991, he wrote a book on his experience in prison and the extreme torture to which he was subjected. Despite his experiences, Hussein is a champion of reconciliation and wants to reach a peaceful win-win solution for Syrians. He was the first political opposition figure to be arrested after the onset of the uprising in Syria and was released a few days later, after being tortured.