Born: 19 May 1995 · Died: 29 April 2020 · Age at death: 24
How old was Yahya Hassan when he died?
Yahya Hassan died aged 24. He was born on 19 May 1995 and died on 29 April 2020.
Danish poet of Palestinian descent whose fierce debut collection became a national bestseller and sparked fierce debate
Did you know?He wrote his poems entirely in capital letters.
Quick facts
Date of birth19 May 1995
Date of death29 April 2020
Age at death24
NationalityDanish
BirthplaceAarhus, Denmark
Editor's Take:
Yahya Hassan caused a storm in Denmark with his very first book. He was the son of Palestinian refugees and grew up in Aarhus. His angry poems attacked both his parents' generation and Danish society. They were written in a raw, furious voice. The book sold in numbers rarely seen for poetry. He received threats and lived under police protection. His later life was marked by legal troubles and mental illness. His death at twenty-four ended a brief but explosive career.
Key Milestones
2013: Publishes his debut collection
2015: Stands for parliament
2019: Publishes Yahya Hassan 2
Yahya Hassan (19 May 1995 – 29 April 2020) was a Danish poet and political activist of Palestinian descent, whose poems and public statements criticizing both Islam and Danish policies on migration and participation in armed conflicts made him a much-debated and controversial figure.
