We will never forget...

Fourteen lives, each unique and inspiring, were tragically cut short on December 21, 2023, at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University. We will never forget those who lost their lives so suddenly and incomprehensibly. We want to always remember their stories and are grateful to their loved ones for sharing their thoughts and memories.

We respect that everyone experiences grief in their own way and shares as much as they are able, in the time and form they need.

We have not forgotten those who were injured and continue to cope with the aftermath of this tragedy. We remain committed to offering support to all those affected as part of the rebuilding of academic life at Charles University.

On June 21, 2024, six months after the tragic event at the Faculty of Arts, we unveiled a temporary memorial at Jan Palach Square dedicated to the victims of the December attack. The centrepiece of this memorial is a three-meter-high stone monument.

“We don’t want to commemorate the act that affected us six months ago but to remember those we lost then. Their passing had a profound impact on our faculty, our colleagues at Charles University, other institutions, and a large part of the public. We want to provide a space where we can honour the victims,” Eva Lehečková, the dean of the Faculty of Arts at Charles University, said.

We ask all readers of the victims’ tributes and memories to respect the privacy of the survivors. We also request that members of the media and the public refrain from distributing any of the texts or photographs, and respect the need for media restraint.

Thank you for your understanding.