Frans van der Lugt
1938-2014 20th century
Staying when leaving would be reasonable, and refusing to the end to give hatred the last word.
Who was Frans van der Lugt?
A Dutch Jesuit who came to the Middle East at twenty-six, he learned Arabic and opened near Homs a farm and a centre where Christians, Muslims and people with disabilities lived together. When the city was besieged, he refused to leave and stayed with those who could not flee. He was shot outside his house in April 2014.
In their own words
To my last breath I hoped that hatred, struggle and pain would stop.
It is love that continues. Nobody has to sit back and watch.
The Syrian people have given me so much. If they are suffering now, I want to share their pain.