I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Kavien. I will remember him as a kind, passionate and sweet boy with a warm smile. Thinking of you.

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Much love, Fleur de Haan, A fellow student of LUC

On behalf of the College Board of Leiden University College, I convey our sincere condolences to you, because of the death of your son Kavien. We are very shocked, and sympathize with you enormously. As the board of this programme; but also in our own role as parents. Having to lose a child so young is unimaginable.

I got to know Kavien as a very involved person, who wanted to play a role with everything he had in him in addressing injustice in this world, Kurdistan in particular of course. In addition, he was also a very gentle and friendly boy. We are very sorry to hear that he is no longer alive.

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Dr Kim Duistermaat, Operational Manager - Leiden University College

I wanted to say I met Kavien during my time at LUC. He was truly such a great, lovely person, so sweet and caring. A great loss for the world! But at the same time a present he has been amongst us all. I wish you much strength!

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My sincere condolences, Daphne Gambieraki

I'm writing to express my deepest feelings for your loss. I cannot imagine how hard it is for you, however, if it is of any comfort, you should be proud of who Kavien was. In my experience as his tutor and teacher, he was a committed, respectful, but curious, and overall, a very caring young man. His love for the Kurdistan was contagious and he always searched for ways to explain what is going on there in connection with other issues, to make us all feel somewhat connected even if we are strangers. He was driven by his principles, believes and acted with integrity, despite adversity, something admirable in these times. My wish is that the strength of his memory can give some solace to the incommensurability of your loss.

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Respectfully and warmly, Daniela

Leiden University College‘s alumni office just shared the profoundly sad news of Kavien's passing.
I too remember him as a young man with unbridled passion for the Kurdish community, which I estimate must have contributed to his sense of genuineness and sincerity in his interaction with one another.
Please accept my sincerest condolences for your loss. That you may draw strength and love from the memories of Kavien and please know that I hold you in my prayers.

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All my best, Frenkchris Sinay (IJ ’17)

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Kavien Begikhani, former student at Leiden University College, passed away on 27 November at the young age of 27. The college community remembers Kavien’s kindness and his commitment to peace and justice for people who suffer from oppression.

Kavien started at LUC in 2016, and chose to major in Human Diversity. Dr. Dan Saxon, who was one of his instructors, says “My strongest memory of Kavien is how caring he was. By "caring," I mean that he thought and felt deeply about the challenges facing the world and specifically about the struggles of the Kurdish and Yazidi communities in recent years. Kavien worked very hard to educate himself about these issues and to explore ways to communicate these challenges to the LUC community and to the public in The Hague. I was impressed by his desire and determination to work for the betterment of society, not only in Holland but also in Iraq and Kurdistan. He was simultaneously gentle, intense and creative. The LUC community is a poorer place without him, but we are very lucky to have known him and to have learned so much from him.” Dr. Maja Vodopivec, who met Kavien as a student in her Politics of Cultural Memory class, says In 2019 Kavien paused his studies at LUC and continued to study English Language and Culture, also at Leiden University.

Kavien is buried in his beloved Kurdistan. On behalf of the LUC community, the College Board extends its condolences to Kavien’s family, friends, fellow students and staff. We wish everyone strength, courage and love in dealing with this loss. The family can be reached at ah.feijs60@gmail.com for condolences.

Students who feel the need to talk or need help, can reach out to the Student Life Officer (slc@luc.leidenuniv.nl).

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The LUC College Board, Prof. dr. Judi Mesman (Dean), Alice van de Vooren (Educational Director), Dr. Kim Duistermaat (Operational Manager)

It was with sadness that I heard yesterday of Kavien's passing. I'm very shocked by it. I taught Kavien 5 years ago at the University College in The Hague, where he wrote a paper about the gas attack on Halabja. I remember him very well - he was a very good student who was very passionate about the Kurdish cause. My wife, Bareez Majid, is also a Kurdish and obtained her PhD at Leiden University. Kavien was always very interested in her research on Kurdistan. He has also had contact with her and she is also very upset about it.

We remember him as a sweet, gentle, intelligent and very driven young man. He will be missed.

I would like to wish you a lot of strength during this time, also from my wife.

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Mathijs Peters en Bareez Majid

I deeply saddened to hear about our loss of Kavien. I knew him during my time at LUC, he was inspiringly passionate and we had many conversations about justice for the Kurdish people. This must be a terribly difficult time for you all, but please know that the memory of Kavien shines strong. I have no idea what the conditions of Kavien’s death were, I only read about it in and LUC email. If you wouldn’t mind I would be grateful for any information.

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Warmest, Greg Frey

Thank you dear Awaz for your reply. I wish you a world of strength and a smile when you remember him. He blessed the world while he was a part of it!

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All the best, Daphne Gambieraki

I am a teacher at Leiden University College and yesterday I learned the terrible news of the death of Kavien. I just wanted to reach out and say that I am so sorry for your loss.

I knew Kavien a little when he was a student with us: he never took any of my courses, but I was the academic supervisor for his Paris internship and in that context had a number of conversations with him. I thought he was a wonderful young man: kind, bright and absolutely sincere in his commitment to making this world a better place. His love for Kurdistan was part of everything he did and said: the motto of the proposal for his internship was the poem “The Cross, the Snake, the Diary of a Poet” by Sherko Bekas.

It was a privilege to have known Kavien, however briefly, and I will remember him with sadness but also with fondness and admiration.

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With deepest sympathy, Jacqueline

The loss of a talented Kurdish boy.
Sometime in 2017 I was invited by the American university in Dohuk, northern Iraq to give a so-called keynote speech at a congress about the Yazidi population about what has been done to the Yazidis by IS. On that occasion I met Kavien, an impressive student from Leiden dressed in Kurdish clothing. He had an important role in the various events around the congress and soon we moved together and met back in the Netherlands. We became friends. We drank coffee or ate together and talked about his Kurdish background and in particular about what was done to the Kurds by Saddam Hussein and his government. Through my work I am forever connected to the fate of the Kurdish population in northern Iraq and therefore understood quite well what was on his mind.

Kavien not only turned out to be a talented student, he was also very enthusiastic, as was also evident from the exhibition about Halabja at Leiden University, which he organized. However, the happy optimistic and talented Kavien changed completely after a summer visit to Paris. What happened there will always remain a mystery to me. He started smoking more and expressed himself more and more strongly about the suffering that has been inflicted on the Kurds in northern Iraq. It was hard for me to see my talented friend slipping away. I agreed with him when I could, but it turned out to be impossible to get through to him any longer. This young friend who could have meant so much beauty to the Kurdish community became a victim of the Dutch system and apparently they could not provide him with the care he needed. When I looked him up he was still optimistic and even when we had telephone contact there was hope, until apparently something finally broke with him.

The news of his death came unexpectedly and especially as a sledgehammer. This young man, victim of the genocide of the Kurds in northern Iraq by a criminal regime, fled to the Netherlands but increasingly lonely despite the good care of his mother and the help offered by her sister, apparently saw no other way out. A young promising tree is finally snapped in the middle of its growth. Let's honor Kavien's memory. My thoughts go out to Awaz, her sister, all those who loved him.

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Simon Minks

I met Kavien when he studied at Leiden University College. A gentle, very polite young man, who was deeply concerned about the injustices in the world. At our programme, where six hundred students deal with the major challenges facing our world, and where most of them are looking for how they themselves can contribute to a better world, Kavien stood out. He was special because his concern for a just world came deep from his heart, his whole being. All of our students want to fight for a better world, but there are only a few for whom that goal is so inextricably intertwined with themselves.

Kavien drew attention to the injustice in Kurdistan in all kinds of ways. With advanced plans for an international conference on genocide. With an exhibition about the poison gas attack on Halabja. Occasionally also with an activism that is not always easy for bystanders to understand. And by becoming active in political and cultural movements and making his voice heard.

He struggled with untold, traumatic world problems, and his personal interwovenness with them seemed to make it more complex. All adolescents are searching, growing, busy defining themselves and giving them a place in society, including Kavien. That in itself is quite a challenge, but it seemed to me as if Kavien simultaneously carried the injustice and suffering of Kurdistan with him and had to give it a place. An almost impossible challenge.

Words that come to mind when I think of Kavien are caring, gentle, creative, intense, boundless. Somehow he gave his whole self to his belief that he had to do something, contribute something or change something. I didn't know him very closely, but he left an indelible impression on me. It is intensely sad that he is no longer here.

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Kim Duistermaat

We got to know Kavien through a course that Mathijs taught in 2017 at Leiden University College in The Hague. That course was about different forms of ‘Visual and Cultural Analysis’. So we looked at ways to analyze all kinds of cultural phenomena, from movies to traditions. Kavien immediately stood out, because of his enormous passion for the Kurdish cause. Like no other, he was able to combine his political commitment with the more theoretical reflections within the profession. For example, he wrote his final paper about the smell of apples, which reminds most people only of fruit, but for many Kurds who experienced the poison gas attacks on Halabjah is inextricably linked to the smell of the chemical substance used in the attack.

When I told him that I am married to Bareez, who was researching the memory culture of Iraqi Kurdistan at the time, he often sent us messages about his projects, including a representation of one of the best-known photos of the victims of the poison gas attack, in the hall of the University College. For Bareez, it was very inspiring to hear from another Kurdish academic, who managed to fuse engagement with theoretical interest and analysis. Kavien also sent her a link to the Kurdish Summer School in France, where he himself had participated a year earlier. Bareez later signed up for that, unfortunately Kavien could not be there at the time. Kavien was generous with his contacts and his knowledge. In the acknowledgements of her PhD thesis, Bareez mentioned Kavien as someone who will not be forgotten.

We were both very shocked when we heard of Kavien's death. We remember him as a sweet, gentle and very driven young man. Kavien was a beautiful person, who made the (academic) world more beautiful and diverse with his intelligence. He will be missed.

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Mathijs en Bareez

My memories of Kavien
I was asked to summarize and personalize Kavien's supplied text and motivation for both the action platform and a personal story for our website. I decided it was better to interview Kavien and made an appointment with him. I remember Kavien as a very motivated and ambitious man. In the run-up to our interview, he had contacted chairman Dorine Manson of his own accord. He wanted to know what he could best say about the Council for Refugees and whether what he wanted to say was correct. I imagine this action says a lot about what his character was like. Kavien seemed to me to be very perfectionist, ambitious and tenacious to bring something he was committed to to the best possible end. I thought that was special to see. I thought: ‘Kavien will go far in his career.’

Interviewing him was very nice, but also a bit difficult. Kavien was a bit ‘woolly’ in his way of writing and telling, which made his wonderful motivation less concrete. A characteristic that I often see in directors / managers, who have much more ‘the big picture‘ in mind. But to get people excited to sponsor him, it was essential for me to make the man behind this sporting action visible. With a smile I read back our old email exchanges, where both Kavien and I make text proposals back and forth and I sometimes had to push a little to get his personal history, for example, into the story. It was a great shock to me and my colleagues when we learned that Kavien has passed away. So young and so promising. My condolences to his family and loved ones with this immense loss.

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Annemieke van der Pol – Editor-in-chief at The Dutch Council for Refugees (VluchtelingenWerk)

I met the cute and sweet Kevin from a very close distance, far, near, deep, who at first doesn't work in the heart of man and then flies like a butterfly in the soul. The achievement of the bright path, the charming path that people have followed for generations and worried about the unjust war of this era. Ten beasts, stay away; I can't help but write poets for Kevin. It looked like a poem by a hopeful poet who is dark-skinned and white-bearded and wants to achieve something! All of us who have passed through a world of wounds, pain and lights know how contradictory and devastating it is to make a candle for our people; Kevin's short journey shook me a lot. I wished he would have lived for many years and the precious gems of experience would have been a tree of life for future generations.

He would have raised them the way he wanted, a precious world where values ​​are important to him. Man is sacred, the sky is grand, the land is colorful and he would have cleansed the dark shadows of all these wars. Like me, I haven't believed in death and disappearance for years. People live behind closed stones – those who are silent are not really silent. We don't have ears to hear, so they hear in their own way. Here with these few lines that will be written forever on Kevin's tree of prayer and pure wishes, the pure hands of water and the prosperity of light, and talk to them.

That the sweet young smiles of the people and the hearts of the people may continue the great meaning of life and overcome the darkness. After all, Kevin wanted to conquer destruction and darkness.

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I bow with respect to you, Dr.Hiva Panahi

In Memory of Kavien
A GENTLE, SENSITIVE, INTELLIGENT AND PATRIOTIC MAN
I got to know Kavien during the summer of 2018. He had come to Paris to do a course for a few weeks at the library of the Kurdish Institute. Thanks to his adaptability skills, his acute sense of connection and his intellectual curiosity, he rapidly became integrated with our little team which, apart from the polyglot Kurdish- and English-speaking librarian Gérard Gautier, notably included the feminist writer Sophie Mousset and a young, talented German woman, Mélinda Ackermann.

Brought up in a patriotic Kurdish family, he was very attached to Kurdish identity and culture. He was delighted to be able to have so many books and documents on the Kurds and on Kurdistan at his fingertips to satisfy his boundless curiosity. Through his meticulous and methodical work, he also contributed to making these resources more easily accessible to all those who, in various capacities, were interested in the Kurdish world. Throughout this period, I was able on numerous occasions, to discuss, lunch or dine with him to get to know him better.

I thus discovered a gentle being, very sensitive, cultivated and intelligent. A live wire who was often disturbed by political wrangling and internal conflicts between Kurds, which, for our generation, was nothing new or unusual but which seemed incomprehensible and harmful to him. Idealistic and patriotic, he dreamt of a Kurdish unity which could at last advance the Kurdish cause on the international scene. Sometime afterwards, when I met him again at The Hague on the occasion of an international symposium, he seemed happy in the company of his Kurdish friend with plans for the future. He was named “Young Ambassador for the Kurdish cause” by the American NGO Justice for Kurds (JFK) based in New York. But alas, this moment of happiness and optimism turned out to be transient. One cannot know, behind the gestures and superficial smiles, what goes on in the heads of those close to him and the torments which gnaw at such beings with sensitive souls, like poets and artists, which at any given moment could tip him over the edge.

His untimely demise is a great loss painfully felt by his family, his numerous friends in Paris, in the Netherlands, in Kurdistan and elsewhere.

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Dr. Kendal Nezan, President of Institut Kurde de Paris.

I will remember Kavien as a gentle and warm person. He was super interested in others, caring and passionate. I admire his commitment to making the world a better place and fighting for others. I am very happy that I got to know him, although much too short. We'll miss him.

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Katinka

I didn't get to know Kavien until he was a grown young man. I got to know him as friendly, polite, helpful, and very intelligent. The delicious apple pies he baked in our oven were famous throughout the family. He often came to visit us and we also made trips, for example to Paris and Tours. We had fun together on subjects that were discussed in his studies at LUC and that were a bit in my field, we sometimes worked together on such a subject. In “mathematical modelling” we had worked out a hypothetical case in which we sold our old car to a neighbor at an usurious interest – on installment. Thanks to the compound interest, we got rich, we had a blast.

Later he became more gloomy, he had taken the burden of all Kurdistan on his shoulders. It seemed to me that he wanted too much at once and I used the metaphor of the oxygen masks on the plane. If the cabin pressure drops: first put on your own mask, save yourself, then the others. He came to live with us temporarily, he had constructive plans for his new future, but the corona messed up his plans.

Kavien was a romantic, he loved poems, art, beautiful photography. As in Don McLean’s song: “This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you”.

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Loe

As a child you are born in a place in the world that further shapes your life. This place largely determines the further course of your further life course. Do you grow up in fear, war, violence, hunger, prosperity or that you cannot be who you are. All these things determine how you can and may develop yourself. What almost all children in this world have in common is the full safety and love of their parents. All these things determine how you can and may develop yourself. What almost all children in this world have in common is the full safety and love of their parents.

I got to know Kevin as a boy in a very searching phase in his life, as an adolescent he was searching and he had a lot of trouble finding safety. He was looking for the suspense and thrill that ultimately didn't bring him what he wanted. His mother has always given him security, support and safety, even in difficult times she was there for him. And she gave the peace and security that Kevin was looking for but could not find. Kevin's life became more peaceful, he went to study and focused his energy on making a better world. He was open in contact, gave others energy.

Yet his quest also resurfaced in him, which he could no longer bear. Kevin is a beautiful person with so many plans and his life will always stay with us.

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Chris Baltussen

My first contact with Kavien was during the telephone conversation in which he did his very best to explain that he would be a super fine tenant. I told him I had a few more visitors planned and would let him know who we would hire as a tenant. A little later, in a letter from Kavien of more than 4 sides! His emotions, serious attitude to work, future plans, hobbies ... you name it. Very strange on one side, but also touchingly open. We met, we signed a contract and we shook hands.

It was the beginning of a special and sometimes turbulent time with beautiful ups and unfortunate downs. Kavien was a sweet and considerate neighbor to his two co-tenants. And very thoughtful for the downstairs neighbor who had cancer. He used to stop by for a chat and once even made her a cake. “A sweet boy,” said the downstairs neighbor.

The study was sometimes too much for Kavien and we often talked and called about respecting the house rules regarding smoking, for example, and also about how to live life. If I happened to pass by the house and he had made a big mess in his room and we laughed about it together and I said he was of the age to keep up with it... then he proudly sent a day later a photo thanks for the tip and of a tidy room. Sometimes when I was doing some odd jobs he would join me with a cup of tea to chat. He always offered you something. ‘Don't you want something to eat? or something to drink.’ And he regularly had his neighbors on his balcony. ‘Yes, I think that's a bit for them too,’ he said to me. He just always really wanted to do well, but sometimes had problems with self-discipline and the life that sent so many big problems flying by. I sincerely hope that wherever he or his soul or his memory is now, he rests. I have good memories of Kavien and I'm glad we were able to give him a place for a while.

I think he would have preferred us to move forward with energy in our lives. He couldn't, but his heart was big enough to wish for everyone else.

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Dear greetings Kavien. Ko Verlare - Den Haag

Sometimes we meet people once, but they can be forever present in our memories and leave a trace that is difficult to erase. Kavien was a young man with a smile, full of life energy and hidden strength of love. The memories were some songs of Adnan Karim, poems of my friend Dr. Nazand and smiles of Kavien that remained in these pictures forever and became a sad painting. Remember you, may your soul rest in peace, young heart full of longing

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Dr Rebwar Saed

In Memory of Kavien
My dear Nazand

You asked me to write a few words on my acquaintance with the young Kavien whose untimely demise has saddened us so much. Indeed, at the start of the year 2018, I received a message from Kavien telling me that he was planning to do an internship in Paris, at the Kurdish Institute, and he asked me if I would agree to be one of his Directors of Studies. And in June 2018, he sent me a long covering letter which I signed. I think this document will interest you. You’ll find it attached. During his stay in Paris, in the month of July 2018, I certainly had opportunities to meet Kavien on many occasions and to respond to his enquiries. He only had to climb one floor to ask me questions.

At that time, I was myself in the process of organising my library to donate it to the Kurdish Institute. We needed to put these works and documents in numbered boxes and Gérard Gautier, our librarian, needed to be involved in this huge upheaval. Kavien spontaneously offered to help. We entrusted Kavien the task of drawing up the list of works in each box. And he did a great job which I also attach. My fellow academic Harriet Lutsky also came to give us a hand. Of course, I gave Kavien any works he wanted of which I possessed a copy. We laughed. We had a great time together. This beautiful Kavien, so kind, so helpful, is gone, leaving us all so sad.

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I embrace you all, Joyce, Emeritus Professor Joyce Blau

My name is Vlad Moca-Grama, I studied with Kavien in the same generation at LUC The Hague. I was shocked to hear of his passing last year, and I meant to write to you last year, however I did not have the chance to. I saw, however, the website you made in his honour, and I felt compelled to wrote this e-mail.

When I met Kavien in my first year, he struck me as an adult. I was just a mere teenager, clumsily making my way into adulthood, but Kavien seemed well put together, in control of his life and actions. He was incredibly charismatic, soft-spoken, generous and kind. When we were entering our third year, we even discussed to move together after he hosted me for a dinner, but that unfortunately never materialized.

Kavien was a warrior-artist, a poet, a lover of life and of other people. Like the best of those among us, he left too early. He was a complete, whole individual. The battle of light and dark in him was stronger than in most. But that made him a beautiful individual, a human. I miss him dearly and I am truly sorry for your loss. Be assured that there are people like me out there in the world keeping his memory alive in our minds and hearts. And thank you for raising such a lovely man, that left such a mark in such a short time. May he rest easy and may you find your peace in your grief.

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Sending you lots of love, support and warmth, –Vlad

I am very impressed by this website, made with lots of love. What a beautiful man was Kavien, with a great and wise heart. Clearly he wishes te best to the whole world and was working for it. He reminds me of Nicholas Roerich, a Russian painter also very dedicated to worldpeace. May this remarkable site, made by his mother and her husband, continu his beautiful work and spread it out to the whole world!

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Jerome Korse

Kevin, we were waiting for you to come back to Kurdistan, but how suddenly and how mercilessly changed the way of your return we waited for. You booked your plane ticket for the 4th of the month and it looks like the departure and return of your lifeless body is approaching the 4th of the month. I met you because of Aunt Nazand and I got to know your beautiful and peaceful soul.

I'm afraid your mother's music, all the songs of youth and age, that the journey of the year in solitude and solitude in front of you, turn to tears this time. But I tell myself that Nazand and Awaz, though hard, though hard, will endure this pain and light a new candle from the bottom of their hearts full of their suffering and this time they will light life with the candle of your memories . Oh bye my sweat Kevin.

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Shadi

When I think of Kavien I see a smiling face that looks at me.
Kavien is in the kitchen when I return from work.
He asks how my day was, if I feel good and if I don't have too much stress.
He says it's important that I eat and sleep well.
He says he has started yoga again.
I hear a soft voice talking about dreams and ambitions.
After chatting for a while, I walk on to my room.
We wish each other a nice evening.

One time I was talking to Kavien. I don't remember how we got to the subject, but it was about Joan Baez. How fantastic her music is, how beautiful her voice is and that Farewell Angelina is one of her most beautiful songs. We were amazed that we had undoubtedly often listened to her music at the same time, separately, in our rooms diagonally above each other. A while later, Kavien said he was going to a Baez concert. While he was there he shared this photo.


Thinking of Kavien I played a piece of the song Farewell Angelina on the flute and added it to this mail.

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Hartelijke groet, Irene (former house mate of Kavien)

One of the beautiful memories I have of Kavien is how he, (at Loe and Awaz's wedding) together with his cousins, could motivate all the guests to participate in the traditional Kurdish dance and we danced together in the circle


I remember Kavien as a person who was genuinely interested in others, he was always very helpful and very friendly. I am grateful that I got to know him.

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Liefs, Suzanne

Kevin Gian, I miss your generosity, your warmth, your honesty, your sacrifice, your feeling for details, the delicious things you have prepared. I don't know if I can ever visit The Hague again without you! It hurts so much not to have been there for you at the right moment. Life can be so mean. What hurts especially, we also lost you to Kurdistan. Only they know what price Kurdistan has those who paid for it.

A week before you left us forever, you spent several nights with my mother and the region in Germany. I’m sorry I couldn't come to you then, but I’m grateful that two weeks earlier we were in Duisburg for a few nights together, I smelled you, I kissed you.
Shine bright like a diamond
Find light in the beautiful sea,
You’re like diamonds in the sky
You’re a shooting star I see, a vision of ecstasy.

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Rewin Begikhani

For Kavien and his family, August 2022
I cannot say how sorry I was to hear from Nazand that Kavien had died. It is such a deep tragedy for your family. I only met him a few times but found him to be a charming, honest, amusing, confident and profound young man. It was when he was living in Iraqi Kurdistan with his wonderful grandmother who I had the inestimable privilege of knowing a little bit. I was proud later to wite a poem celebrating the grandmother and her life. At the time, Nazand and I were working on our research on women’s issues in the Region and we were staying at the Chwar Chra hotel in Erbil. Kavien was staying there too to visit with Nazand and with his cousin, Regine, having come into the city for the visits and for school from his grandmother’s in Koya. We spent several evenings laughing and chatting together and investigating things on the internet — at which he was astoundingly good! We also went on some outings, including shopping. One time, we all drove into the mountains and had a riotous time, laughing and singing. He was very happy on that rather delirious trip to see the views of the city from on high. We sped up there in a fast-moving, expertly-driven car, and he laughed along and contributed to the banter and joking, as a full member of the group, even though the rest of us were much older than him.

I have worked with teenagers in trouble extensively in the past and I did know that he had some difficulties. But, when I met him he was glowing and optimistic.

He was proud of his family and their role in the Kurdish struggle and respectful of his grandmother. He clearly loved his aunt (Nazand) and his Mum Awaz. It was fun talking to him and learning things from him about technology and youth culture -- and about being a second-generation exile in Europe from Kurdistan and growing up European. He was fun to be with and had a lot fewer issues than many young men I had previously worked with. There was hope that it would all work out OK at that time, and I am very distressed that it did not in the end. Nevertheless, Kavien continued his studies at school and then university, after the happy time I have described. I know that he later went to Paris and worked on human rights for the Kurds, and supported in a committed way the tireless struggle of the Kurdish people for justice. I understand that he assisted Judge Simon Minks who defended the Kurds in the case of chemical weapons sold to Saddam Hussein, and that a foundation, Kavien's Foundation for Justice, is going to be created by Judge Minks. This foundation will, among other things, award an annual prize to a displaced student or refugee advocating for human rights and social justice. I was very moved to hear about this and feel that it is a fitting tribute to Kavien and his life. I know that his family and friends will be proud of him and of this important initiative which will be life-changing for the young people selected and which reflects Kavien’s own advocacy for Kurdish freedom and justice.

I feel deeply sorry things went wrong for him later, and I know how hard his family tried — including his mother, Awaz, who I am sad to have never met and Nazand with whom I have worked for many years. I consider it an honour to know Nazand with all she has done for women, for Kurdistan and for poetry. She and I have talked about it over the years since I met him. And it is clear that everyone did their best to help him as time passed and things became difficult. As far as I can see, his close family all moved mountains for him. I hope no one thinks they should have done more. You did everything you possibly could I believe, knowing a little of the complexities of cases like this. But his lovely potential was sadly not to be realised. Meantimes though, he was wonderful and ebullient. I loved our times together and wish I could have done more myself to support him and you all. I hope you can celebrate his life, his commitment to justice for Kurdish people, his unconventional spirit and his determination to live free. Perhaps as time goes on, the celebration of all that will be easier. He really wanted to be free, didn’t he. A free spirit who could not be contained. And a fine young man.

In sum, it was a huge pleasure for me to meet Kavien. I liked him very much indeed, as I have said. He confided in me a bit and we also had some very amusing times and fascinating conversations. Thank you, Kavien, for being so charming. It was a precious time indeed. Our love and warmth goes with you, Kavien. I hope you glimpsed and remembered — as things got more difficult and time went on — what a great person you were. A great person, even with your unconventional, non-traditional passion and the challenges you later encountered. You were a bit like a glowing, fast-moving and short-lived meteor, glowing brightly — and illuminating us more conventional people too — as you zipped across the skies. Just for a short time. Flashing across our skies (until things became too hard). The world was lucky to have you, Kavien, just for a while. Indeed, the world was lucky to have you. Perhaps, you were more than a meteor. More like a short-lived racing star, shining and flashing, even though hard times and darkness were beckoning. A bright short-lived star. Thank you, Kavien, for your brief life.

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With sorrow and sympathies, Gill, Nazand’s long term friend and colleague, Professor Emerita Gill Hague

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Dear Kavien,
What do you write when someone is no longer there? Which words describe what you think and feel? Words fall short, but memories remain forever.

April 2019. I came to see the room on the Koningin Emmakade. Ko already told me that next to me lived a very friendly and artistic student from Kurdistan. A little absent-minded, but the goodness itself. And above all super smart. You devoured books like it was nothing.

Soon I was welcome with your friends on your balcony. You were open to everyone. Everyone was allowed to share their story and you shared yours. Regularly your mother came over with her husband, whom you loved. You made contact with Brutus of the church and brought him food. You were (and are and remain) a warm person with your heart in the right place. From that day on, I closed you in my heart. You met my friends and best friend, chatted a lot and you loved to cook. We played games with the neighbor, ate on your balcony, enjoyed a glass of wine and drank fresh mint tea on the Grote Markt. You were vulnerable and talked about the past.

But there was a downside. Behind that big generous smile, there was a heart that cried. You fought hard against the past. An unresolved trauma, an intense one. Which you then tried to sedate. You kept smiling and I kept having a chat with you. You changed course, decided that enough was enough and would do your bit in Kurdistan. With a stopover at your parents in Limburg. I had hope and was even proud. You did it nicely. I waved you off and there you went, with the truck to your parents.

Dear, smart and caring Kavien, you are in my heart forever. Rest gently
 

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Love, Naomi