(Late Sunday I watch Neda’s video. I suspect that I recognize Arash Hejazi, but I prefer not to believe in what I am seeing. I send him and email)
Sunday 21 23:011
Dear Arash
I need to know where you stand, if things that I am seeing/reading are true. Then I can myself take a position – depending on your advice, of course.
love
Paulo
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:05:05 -04:00
Subject: your country
Dearest Paulo,
I am now in Tehran. The video of Neda’s murder was taken by my friend, and you can recognize me in the video. I was the doctor who tried to save her and failed. She died in my arms. I am writing with tears in my eyes. Please don’t mention my name. I’ll contact you with more details soon.
Love
Arash
The doctor
(At this point, I decide to put the video in my blog)
(For the rest of the day, I try to contact him. At one point, someone answers his phone as a “CNN journalist”. I start to become worried)
Monday 22 17:46
Dear Arash
so far, no news from you. After I published the video in my blog, it seems that it spread worldwide, including posts in NY Times, Guardian, National Review, etc.
Therefore, my main concern now is about you. You NEED to answer this email, saying that you are all right
and
the name of the person where we spend the New Year’s Eve in 2001 together, just to be sure that it is you really who is answering this email. I don’t buy this CNN person answering your mobile.
If you don’t do that, I may leak your name to the press, in order to protect you – visibility is the only protection at this point. I know this because I am a former prisoner of conscience.
If you do that, unless instructed otherwise by you, I will stop the pressure for the moment. My main concern now is you and your family.
love
Paulo
P.S. – there are several trusted friends in blind copy here.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:35 AM
Dearest Paulo
I am alright for now. I am not staying at home. I don’t know about CNN. The friend’s name was Frederick.
Love
Arash
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:37 AM
Dearest Paulo,
Trying to leave the country tomorrow morning. If I don’t arrive in London at 2 pm., something has happened to me. Till then, wait.
My wife and my son are in (edited). Their phone (edited) Her email (edited)
Please wait till tomorrow. If something happens to me, please take care of (name of wife) and (name of son), they are there, alone, and have no one else in the world.
Much love, it was an honor having you as a friend.
Arash
(At this point, a Brazilian journalist, Luis Antonio Ryff, who traveled to Iran to cover my visit, recognizes Arash in the video, and writes me to double-check. I confirm, but I ask him to keep his name secret until today. Ryff agrees – even knowing that this would be a major scoop for him. I would like to thank him here, for his dignity)
Wednesday 24 1:55 PM
Arash landed in London
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Mr. Coelho, hundreds Dr Hejazi asr in Iran. Plz don’t let us be foorgotten after these days. Although with God protection we are not alone. but as Sa’adi said:
“Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.”
We need the help of people of all around the world.
We are a part of your suffering .Recognize it ,that you have the world on your side, surrounding you with our love. Gain strenght.You are courage and beauty!
Love from New Zealand
Look at this article:
http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,632775,00.html
Thanks Paulo, thanks Arash!
Dear Paulo Coelho
this short comment is for you – and for Dr. Hejazi – who in my eyes is real hero – a model for humanity !
Congratulations for your Interview in the BBC Dr. Hejazi – and congratulations for your courage as you tried to help Neda. And also congratulations also to Paulo to have told us this story. Some days ago I post it in my blog (in French) [http://cneffpaysages.blog.lemonde.fr/2009/06/20/f-comme-freidoune/] – “et ouvrons-leur nos portes quand ils en auront besoin” – I hope that the free world will open their doors and say welcome when refugees from Iran will arrive – for all of them when they will knock on our doors ! Yours Christophe
P.S.: I have wrote a short, article in French and German Wikipedia about you Dr. Hejazi – and I also think that there also should be an Portuguese article about you – but my Portuguese is actually to bad – !
Dear friend
The last thing the world need is an other refugee export country. Enough is enough . For 30 years millions of Iranians flew from their country and tyrani became more and more powerfull . Lead your governments not to deal with this savage government anymore.
pray for us . Pray for these people who could flew from these tyranic government but they choose to stay , to resist , to build their future . Show them ,by all you can , that they are not alone.
Pray for us and do not forget us.
“who are friends not have geographical boundaries”.
Thank you so much Mr. Paulo and Mr Arash to show a real friendship in this world.
greetings from Italy
Maurizio
Mohammad, are you in Iran? If so could you PLEASE contact me at robertdean@spotthedog007.com. I would so much like to speak to someone would could enlighten me about what is going on. I have posted several blogs on my website concerning the struggle and a Tribute To Neda video. God bless and know we stand beside you despite the inaction of our president!
Robert Dean
Dear Paulo Dear Arash,
I am a big fan of your book and Arash translates in Persian…I saw Arash post in the first minutes of putting it on facebook!!! that makes me shocked, I shared it in facebook, grab the video and show it to my friend at work (so many basijies are at my work and I know they will be rewarded if they take part in such ugly jobs), I am doing my protest via net and spreading the news and videos in net… wish Arash come back to free Iran. Send him and his family our best regards
Thank you all dear visitors and dear Paulo for your sympathy with Iran and iranian peoples.
You can read more about mrs. Neda Agha Soltan and 2009 Iranian election protests in Wikipedia and known about what happening now in our dear country Iran.
Paulo, thanks for sharing this part of story for transparency.
Arash Hejazi should be very careful from now on. You know how Islamic regime killed some opposition and people who dared to speak up long before in Turkey, Germany, Britain and France. So be careful, Iran needs you alive.
Thanks for sharing the story with us. I am ashamed to see that the Iranian regime started a negative campaign, by calling the victims of the recent crimes, agents of this country and that country.These kids are not agents, they do not have any political motives, and they do not have a political agenda either. They strive for the most basic human rights, as Nelson Mandela did, as Martin Luther King did and as Ghandi did. Paulo, use your beautiful pen, and tell the world about our struggle please.
I’m shocked!! I can’t express my feeling! Arash Hejazi this familiar name! Oh My GOD!! My GOD what’s going on? Why? Neda, Arash hejazi, Paulo…I just can’t understand…
praising Dr. Arash for trying to save Neda’s life,I am trying to find the phone number and address of Neda’s parents so that they can speack up to western press such as Washington Post, or Washington Times.
Would you mind to help perhaps trough Dr. Arash. Maybe he can talk about Ms. Neda Agh-Soltan to the press
Dear Paulo,
Thank you for sharing this video. Dr. Hejazi is a brave man for coming forward and telling it as is. I know the Iranian govt will go after Dr. Hejazi for telling the truth. One thing on Dr. Hejazi side, he’s not into politics, he was just an onlooker who was there.
Despite the tragedy of Neda Soltani’s death, this story reminds me of the great hope for humanity. As long as people are willing to speak the truth, there is a chance for the freedom of humanity in any nation.
I thank God that your friend and his family are safe. I’m sorry for Neda’s family and the families of all the others whose lives have been cut short by what appears to be the criminal behavior of their government.
Once again, we disappoint the Almighty in a big way, and yet His love touches us through people like Arash.
Well done Paulo. Arash, you’re a hero.
Dear Paulo and Arash…Thank you for your bravery in speaking out and helping me understand what your people are going through. My prayers are with you. Christine
What a great story and what a small world!
This evening (8pm BST, 1900 GMT) on BBC Radio 4, there is a half hour report on Iran from John Simpson (BBC World Affairs Editor) who was recently expelled from Iran.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8116825.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lmqhl
Keith
Wondering how could you recognize his face? That was awesome…
I’m happy we still have good men in the world…
I am very pleased Paulo to hear that you have found your friend alive and well.
Paulo, you are an incredible man, and an incredible human being.
I hope there are more people like you in the world.. this world needs a lot of love & hope, and you spread both in every act possible.
God bless you
I have a frind there /with wife and beautiful daughters/ and I didn’t hear anything from him and his family!
Please God, keep them safe!
I still have a friend there and I didn’t here anything from him and his family.
Dear friend, I’m thinking of you and your wife and daughters! I hope I’ll here from you soon!
Please God, keep them safe!
how great that he is in london now, i was just thinking about it.
grate 4 arash
Congratulations on the safe journey for your friend and his family.
Dear Paulo, I have an iranian friend that arrived in Sweden, last month and he said me that in Iran the life is very bad. He came to Sweden and doesnt know when he will meet his family.
I arrived here today and decided to come here and to know what happened.
I feel that both are the same…your friend and the doctor in the video.I hope so he can be in London. But if he is in London, why he doesnt contact u?
That give me worries.
Have a nice day( I dont know if is possible after lot war around the world)
Paulo, eres un gran tipo.
Te admiro profundamente.
Sencillamente, GRACIAS
Caro Paulo,
grazie a Dio che ci ha dato una persona stupenda come te, grazie per le emozioni chi ci trasmetti, per il coraggio che ci infondano le tue parole, grazie per l’aiuto ai nostri fratelli.
Spero di conoscerti un giorno di persona, per dirti grazie , come sono riuscita a fare con Caetano Veloso.
Che Dio ti benedica
Gabriella
Ho letto come tuo prima libro Brida, in portoghese, quando sono stata in Brasile anni fà – allora non c’erano ancora tuoi libri in italiano
Gracias por aportar tanto a este nuestro universo!
EL QUE BUSCA SER AMADO,RESPETADO Y COMPRENDIDO, ANTES DEBE SEMBRAR PAZ, BONDAD, AMOR Y COMPASION…
If what i read is correct, I understand that Arash arrived in London safely, thank God. As i watched that clip on the news before seeing Paulo’s updated blog, I felt devastated that another young life had been taken, and being a doctor myself, i can only tell you how painful it is to have somebody unexpectedly die in your arms after a violent event, and to feel helpless and powerless to intervene. But i guess what few of us will ever really know are the feelings of a man, a doctor, a human fighting spirit, fighting for justice, risking his own life to help save that of another, and risking the safety and lives of his family in the process. Arash, I honour you. And i am sure you already know that it is never really in our hands to save a life – we are as doctors merely his tools to do his will and facilitate the greater plan, as painful, as devastating as it may be. Neda’s death will never have been in vain, you can be assured of this. We, will never allow this to have been the case. I wish you Arash the sort of peace inside of you that only time can bring you. I wish you a peaceful heart to know that you did everything in your power to do God’s will. I wish the haunting memories and flashbacks of your experience to be silenced with the grace of your service. You are a brave man with a warrior soul. I send you my prayers, my light and love for your healing and for that of your family.
Paulo, thank you so much for letting us know what is going on in the real world, far away from the stories you hear, see and read in the news. This is so incredible important.
Hope that Arash and his family will be reunited soon and Iran will find a way out f this chaos.
I am not religious, but I will pray for them in my own way.
Zita
http://www.iprental.com/ for Iranians in Iran that need anonymous
web browsing through untraceable USA IP addresses.
another great resource
http://iran.whyweprotest.net/news-current-events/2202-green-brief-7-niteowl.html
get Back
We All live in a Yellow Submarine… We Are All God’s Children!
God Bless and Protect… All who Sail upon the Sea of Green… and face the price of Freedom on the Ocean of Liberty…
God Speed Iran God Speed…
La vie, comme nous disons, n’est pas toujours en ROSE . Surtout elle est très cruelle.
Et pourquoi pour avoir la force nous devons nous métamorphoser en animaux sauvages ?
Monsieur Paulo vous avez retrouvé votre amis dans une mauvaise situation, alors qu’il était entrain de faire un acte humanitaire. Vous voyez comme la vie est bizarre.
Shahrzad
dear paulo,
thank you for sharing this very personal and yet so importantly public story about people you love and care for here. i am very moved and thankful that your friend is safe and hope and pray for iranians now, protesting for their human rights and wanting what we already have freedom and safety in speech!
kindest regards, corinna
Thank you for sharing <and keeping the heat up, Paulo. Please, we need to know more, we have to. After the initial outburst, the impression is that of a veil of silence (and death?) that has fallen upon the events in Iran. People like your friend Arash can make the difference, telling the whole world what is really going on in their country.
Paso a leer y saludar, te dejo un beso, cuidate mucho y que sigan los exitos. Soy una lectora mas de tus maravillosos libros.
Thank God for Arash arriving in London safely, but my heart and stomach churns watching the video of Neda. I have never “seen” (in real life, or on video/tv) someone die before, and even on a blurry camera phone it makes me feel sick in my soul for the way she was killed, murdered. I am sure these images will never leave my mind, and I hope the world won’t be able to forget either. How can these conflicts and these deaths continue in the world? I do not understand humanity sometimes. We are created with the ability to feel emotion, and how can man (or woman) continue with such actions after seeing a brutal death like Neda’s? Who are those people who aren’t stirred by images and videos like these? Her life was stolen from her. May she find the most glorious peace now, and may others realize this as well. Every person on this planet deserves peace, both in life and death.
Felizmente ele já está a salvo e desejo que junto de sua família.
Hi, handsome doctor with brave heart!
You are not alone. Because you have a human belt cheering up you and your country. I can recognize the situation by Coelho. Coelho is by you, and we are by Coelho.
For democracy of your country.
For you, your family and Neda.
I am happy that he is ok and hope he and his family will stay safe. I also hope that there will be light shining soon for the people of iran
Hi Paelo,
I love your books and I was inspired by them since I was a teenager. when I saw the news about you and this I really liked that you care about Iranian people or atleast one. But Can you please bring down his last name? I am worried that he will be in a lot of trouble and even maybe tortured or prisoned for this info. I am just saying, because I lived there until I was 17 and I remember what type of people they are, and what things they made us wear in school and on streets and how they were dictating a way of life and how oppressed they made us and our life. Thank you
Dear Paulo
Neda and the other brave guys never death for us,they are in our mind and heart.she is a hero for democracy in Iran and also for human rights around the world,the world will never forget them.
rest in peace…i proud of you Neda…
i was shocked about Arash!he is one of the best iranian translator.i hope all will be safe with him & his family.thanks for your attention.
love
Tara
Ótimo!!! Excelente notícia.
Fico feliz em saber que ele está a salvo. Força!
¿Cómo cree que blog pudo ser Pirateado?
My heart goes out for Neda’s family and I pray that her death is never forgotten. I pray that the people of Iran are given a voice and that, that voice is heard loud and clear. Innocent people should not have to loose their lives to speak the truth of their hearts and minds. The world weeps for you. Your death has brought a voice to the issue in Iran like no other image or story could. Because of you I know know about the injustices that are being done to your people. “The Angel of Iran”. Her name is Neda Soltani, philosophy student. The fresh-faced teenage girl killed by what appears to be a single sniper shot on the street of Tehran on Saturday is now potent symbol for Iran’s pro-democracy protesters. They bastard’s tiranny zoo Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and ex-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regime killed NEDA, but not her voice. Neda is everyone’s sister, everyone’s daughter, everyone voice for FREEDOM… Free 35 Iranian journalists have been arrested even. Free Iran!
Esse mundo é mesmo uma Merda. Eu vi o vídeo no Globo on Line, com todas as cenas chocantes. Não tenho palavras, respondendo o seu post anterior, é nesses momentos que Deus e a Magia morrem cada vez mais.
Abraços grandes.
Dear Paulo,
I am always wondering about how small is this world! On the other hand I am very thankful for your understanding regarding the complexity of the political situation in Iran, even if I am not iranian myself.
Agan, may God bless the soul of every innocent who died for nothing but political babbling everywhere.
Hicham
After Neda, after baseej brutalizing their own with axes, after the lowest, cruelest elements of society have treated the opposition like animals…can the regime know how and when to stop? If all protest ceased, would the terrorizing stop without an opposition to terrorize? Or has the regime opened some door to primal rage that cannot be closed again? What happens to the soul of a people so badly treated?
Truly amazing. No anger. God love and rest her soul.
This makes me want to weep. So many emotions. Wow.
firstly thank you for your care about your iranian friends paulo.
but I can’t understand Iran-Iraq war stoped in 1989 and your friend doesn’t seem to be so much old to work as a doctor at that time.
I just wondered maybe u didn’t mean he was a doctor then?
anyway I hope him to be safe.
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