Birzeit University Mourns the Passing of Author and Rights Campaigner Andre Brink

The Birzeit University community received sadly the news of the death of renowned author Andre Brink, a key campaigner against the apartheid regime in South Africa, and for justice around the world.

We, first as Palestinians and second as the Birzeit family, will always recall fondly his visit to the Birzeit University campus in 2002, which he described then as the decisive experience of his trip to Palestine. Brink also joined in the urgent appeal made by academics, educators, writers and artists, in 2002 supporting the Right to Education at Birzeit University and International Protection for Palestinian Civilians.

Brink did not live to see the end of Israel’s brutal occupation and the Palestinian experience of segregation and apartheid, which he railed against in his own country and ultimately helped defeat. However, his untiring criticism of censorship and oppression brought him near to us and made him dear to our hearts.

Brink’s ideas and writings will remain a source of hope as we work to liberate Palestine from the occupation, and to defeat apartheid policies against the Palestinian people. 

We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends, to the people of South Africa, and to those everywhere who have been inspired and moved by his bravery and honest words.