Desmond tutu
The Queen, Barack Obama and more mourn human rights defenders
Barack Obama awarded Desmond Tutu the President’s Medal of Freedom in 2009.
© imago / ZUMA Wire
Numerous prominent companions and friends mourn the deceased Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu in the social networks.
The human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu (1931-2021), who died last weekend at the age of 90, touched the hearts of countless people with his deeds. Prominent companions also express their regret over the death of the South African anti-apartheid icon on social media.
Mourning the Royals
Via the official Instagram account of the British royal family shared a statement from Queen Elizabeth II (95). It says: “Like the entire royal family, I am saddened by the news of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s death. He was a man who fought tirelessly for human rights in South Africa and around the globe.” The Queen remembers “with joy” her “meetings with him and his great warmth and humor”.
Like his grandmother, Prince Harry (37) did the same. Together with his wife, Duchess Meghan (40), he published a press release on the demise of Tutu. Various media quote from this: “Archbishop Tutu will be remembered for his optimism, moral clarity and joyful spirit.”
Harry and Meghan also mention the personal meeting in 2019 in their farewell text: “It’s only been two years since he held our son Archie in his hands when we were in South Africa.” At that time he enchanted everyone with his “contagious laugh”. The Sussexes had a photo of the meeting in September 2019 posted on her Instagram account.
The former South African swimmer and today’s Princess Charlène von Monaco (43) also took in the social networks Farewell to your “dear friend”. She will have Tutu and his smile in her heart forever, she wrote about two pictures they shared.
“Mentor, friend and moral compass”
Former US President Barack Obama (60) is one of the other public figures who mourn Tutu. He posted a photo of the two men giving each other a warm hug. He writes: “Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been a mentor, a friend and a moral compass to me and so many others […] He has never lost his mischievous sense of humor or his willingness to see the human in his adversaries. Michelle and I will miss him sorely. “
In 2009, Obama, as incumbent President of the United States, awarded Tutu with the President’s Medal of Freedom. It is the highest dignity that can be bestowed on a civilian in the United States.
The native South African and Oscar winner Charlize Theron (46) described Tutu as a “moral compass”. She also wrote: “My heart breaks as I join the world in mourning a true hero.”
Lifelong struggle against injustice
Tutu’s mission was to educate the world about the social injustices that a white minority has been inflicting on the black population of South Africa. At the same time, he campaigned for reconciliation between the population groups through non-violent change. In 1984 he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for his work, and two years later he was appointed Archbishop of Cape Town.
From 1995 he also became chairman of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Tutu also fought for the rights of homosexuals in South Africa and supported, for example, the opening of marriage for same-sex couples.