Jiří Hanák facts for kids
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Jiří Hanák (born February 27, 1938 – died June 5, 2020) was an important Czech journalist and editor. He was also a political activist who believed in freedom. He signed Charter 77, a brave group that spoke out against the government. For many years, he wrote for different newspapers and magazines in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. He received special awards for his work, like the Ferdinand Peroutka Award in 2005 and the Opus Vitae Award in 2010.
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Early Life and Education
Jiří Hanák was born in a town called Buchlovice in Czechoslovakia on February 27, 1938. He went to Charles University in Prague and studied at the Faculty of Arts. This is where he gained knowledge that helped him later in his career.
Early Career and Challenges
After finishing university, Jiří Hanák started working as an editor for a magazine called Reporter in 1967. But things changed quickly. In 1969, he lost his job. This happened after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, when armies from other countries came into Czechoslovakia.
During the 1970s and 1980s, a time known as the Normalization period, the government controlled many things. Jiří Hanák was not allowed to work as a journalist. He had to take other simple jobs to make a living.
Standing Up for Freedom
Even though he faced difficulties, Jiří Hanák did not give up. In 1977, he became one of the first people to sign Charter 77. This was a group of citizens who bravely asked the government to respect human rights.
In 1988, he started writing for a secret newspaper called Lidové noviny. This newspaper was part of the samizdat movement. Samizdat meant that people secretly wrote and shared newspapers and books that the government did not allow.
After the Velvet Revolution
When the Velvet Revolution happened in 1989, Czechoslovakia became free. Lidové noviny was then allowed to be published openly. Jiří Hanák continued to work there.
In 1994, he helped start a new Czech magazine called Týden. He also worked as the main editor for another newspaper, Svobodné slovo, which is no longer published. Later, he became a commentator and writer for the newspaper Právo. In 2016, Jiří Hanák returned to work at Lidové noviny once again.
Later Years and Legacy
Jiří Hanák passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 5, 2020. He was 82 years old and had been ill for a short time. He is remembered as a brave journalist who fought for freedom of speech and truth throughout his life.
