Key communist-era dissident Dana Němcová dies at 89

The leading Czech communist-era dissident Dana Němcová has died at the age of 89. She was an early signatory of the Charter 77 human rights document. She also co-founded the Committee for the Defence of the Unjustly Prosecuted, which provided assistance to the victims of communist repression.

A psychologist by profession, she herself was forced to do menial jobs and also received a six-month jail term.

After 1989 Dana Němcová was briefly a deputy in the Federal Assembly before devoting her energies to human rights and helping the socially excluded.