Ribo and Blimlinger are dismayed at the death of Dževad Karahasan

2023-05-20 11:14:26

A great European writer left us far too soon.

Vienna (OTS) – Born in Duvno in 1953, Dževad Karahasan was Bosnia’s most important contemporary author. “Dževad Karahasan was a citizen of the world, a cosmopolitan who put understanding, tolerance and togetherness at the center of European literature in his literary work,” says Green culture spokeswoman Eva Blimlinger, dismayed by Karahasan’s death.

“As a native of Bosnia and Graz, I had a special connection to Karahasan. We both come from Bosnia and we both found our new home in Graz,” says Bedrana Ribo, spokeswoman for senior citizens and care of the Greens, deeply affected. “I met him for the first time many years ago at an event at a primary school in Graz. He read to the children, many of whom had a migration background. He then took a lot of time to exchange ideas with the children. He encouraged them to read, dream and look at each other. I was fascinated by his simple and down-to-earth manner.”

“For the ex-Yugoslav community he was and will always be one of us. Someone who, like many of us, knew the war, saw what people can do to each other and despite everything believed in a common, peaceful life for all ethnic groups. We will all miss him very much,” Ribo describes the meaning for the people living in Austria as a result of the Balkan War.

“As town clerk in Graz between 1996 and 2003, the city of literature as he called it, Graz became his second home. He never lost sight of his second home, Sarajevo, as can be read and understood impressively in his last great novel “Practicing Floating: An ethical and existential borderline experience by the literary chronicler of Sarajevo,” Blimlinger recommends this great novel.

Our sympathy goes to his family, friends and companions and in any case to everyone in the ex-Yugoslav community who will miss him as a common voice,” conclude Ribo and Blimlinger.