20. Aug 2012

Frankfurt City of Refuge welcomes new Guest Writer

Mohammad Baharloo. Photo: Gabriele Prein, 3sat

The Iranian author Mohammad Baharloo came to Frankfurt earlier this summer. As a member of the Iranian Writers Association he signed an appeal made by the association for increased freedom of expression in Iran. The regime responded by putting his name on their death list.

Mr. Baharloo is a writer and author and he has worked as an editor of a literary magazine. In his books he writes about loneliness and alienation. When interviewed by German 3sat he said that he does not consider himself a political writer, but rather a man of culture. However, in Iran, he explained, all cultural activities are politically linked. Many artists and writers are currently in prison in Iran, "I am, as a writer, concerned about the censorship you find it in all fields of literature, music, theater and publishing."

While residing in Frankfurt, Mr. Baharloo plans to finish a dictionary of Persian slang - a unique work of contemporary Iranian literature.