Ariel Dorfman, the author of Death and the Maiden and many books published in Iran, has urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt its scheduled May 21 execution of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, an imprisoned Swedish-Iranian academic. In a statement released today, Dorfman writes:

“As an author who deeply loves Iranian culture and has been inspired, like so many others worldwide, by all the beauty and peace, wisdom and wonder that is inscribed in Farsi and honors the country, I beg the authorities not to stain that tradition and lineage by executing such a renowned scholar as Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali. Would you not rather be praised for your mercy than for your cruelty?”

(On May 21 at 6:33pm Eastern Time, Iran International tweeted:  “While #AhmadrezaDjalali was supposed to be hanged on Saturday, his wife says the execution did not take place, and Iran's justice minister is considering a postponement of the death sentence.”)

The International Emergency Campaign to Free Iran’s Political Prisoners Now (IEC) joins with Ariel Dorfman, Dr. Djalali’s family, Scholars At Risk, and many other human rights organizations and people of conscience who are calling on Iran to rescind its threatened execution of Dr. Djalali.

“Executing the unjustly imprisoned Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali would be a dangerous escalation of Iran’s already brutal treatment of political prisoners, protesters and dissidents,” says Larry Everest, a spokesperson for the IEC. “Even the threat to execute Dr. Djalali underscores the urgent need to step up the struggle to free all of Iran’s political prisoners and to defend its courageous protesters and dissidents. In that light, I call on all justice loving people to sign an Emergency Appeal: The Lives of Iran’s Political Prisoners Hang in the Balance – We Must ACT NOW!.