Thorolf Rafto

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Thorolf Rafto (July 6, 1922 - November 4, 1986) was a human rights activist and professor in economic history at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration in Bergen, Norway.

During a visit to Prague in 1979 to hold lecture for students excluded from the university for political reasons, Rafto was beaten and maltreated by the communist security police.^{[citation needed]} He suffered from the inflicted injuries the rest of his life and died in 1986 only 64 years of age. The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights was established the same year, in gratitude of his efforts and inspiration.

In his younger days Rafto competed on national level in athletics, and won the Norwegian championships in decathlon in 1947. ^[1]

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