On Friday, Kurdish leaders paid tribute to Joyce Blau, Egyptian-born French linguist and one of the founders of the Kurdish Institute in Paris, renowned for her expertise in Kurdish language and literature, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 92.
The Kurdish Institute said she had been hospitalized since early September and chose to spend her final days at home, surrounded by loved ones.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family, relatives, friends and acquaintances of Professor Joyce Blau,” Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a statement.
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear colleague and friend, Joyce Blau, who passed away on the evening of Thursday, October 24, at her home in Paris.
— Institut kurde de Paris (@institutkurde) October 25, 2024
Hospitalized since early September, she chose two weeks ago to spend her final days at home, surrounded… pic.twitter.com/yfxJx2BdVF
“Joyce Blau was a loyal friend to the Kurdistan people, who through her work, research and publications, served the Kurdish language, literature and culture.”
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Professor Blau in a post on X.
He added that she was “a friend of the Kurds, writer, expert in Kurdish language and literature. I share their grief and would like to express my solidarity with them.”
“Blau spent most of her life supporting the Kurdish people, serving their language, literature and culture. For her actions and her unwavering friendship, she will remain in our thoughts forever.”
Je présente mes sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de la professeure Joyce Blau, amie des kurdes, écrivaine, experte de la langue et de la littérature kurdes, ainsi à ses collègues de l’Institut kurde de Paris. Je partage leur peine et voudrais leur témoigner ma…
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) October 25, 2024
In May 2023, a library named in honor of Joyce Blau was opened during a ceremony at the Erbil Citadel, attended by Kurdish officials and France’s Consul General in Erbil Yann Braem.
“Joyce Blau was an expert on the Kurdish language and a champion of the Kurdish cause among intellectual circles in France and elsewhere,” Senior Advisor to Prime Minister Barzani Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman posted on X.
“She wrote many books and essays on the Kurdish language, folklore and literature and was a founding member of the Institut Kurde. Fittingly, a library was opened in her name in Kurdistan.”
