Crossing continents | 31 March 2016

Could radio, and in particular a weekly soap, have a role to play in the Syrian crisis? You might think, no chance, given the levels of violence and terror that have overtaken the country. How can a mere broadcast signal have an impact compared with all that destruction? But, says the director of Radio Alwan, a station operated by Syrians living in exile in a western suburb of Istanbul, ‘radio is effective’. It’s a ‘weapon’ because it ‘allows you to enter the houses of people and talk to them’. It’s also so easy. ‘You don’t need power, you don’t need electricity — just two small batteries.’

He was talking to Sara Davies on Between the Ears (Radio 3, Saturday), but we cannot be told his name for fear of reprisals. All of those working on the station have had to leave Syria after criticising the regime of President Assad. What Radio Alwan has given them is the chance to do something, even though they are no longer in Syria.