Extracts from Paulo Coelho’s blog, and his email exchange with Dr Arash Hejazi (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 an email)

Sunday, June 21, 23.01

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

Monday, June 22, 02.05-04.00

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

Monday, June 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.

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.

My main concern now is you and your family.

love Paulo

Tuesday, June 23, 01.35

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

Tuesday, June 23, 01.37

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. Please wait till tomorrow. If something happens to me, please take care of my wife and 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.

Wednesday, June 24, 13.55

Arash lands in London

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