‘Funny in Farsi’ translator missing

been abducted by the authorities, a source close to him said last week.

That source said Moham-mad Soleimani Nia, 40, hasn’t been seen since he responded to a call from authorities June 27 to retrieve personal belongings that had been confiscated. He was to pick up his gear, including his driver’s license, computer and passport, at an office near Evin Prison.  He hasn’t been seen since.

Firoozeh Dumas, the Iranian-American author whose best-selling book, “Funny in Farsi,” was translated by Soleimani Nia into Farsi, described her friend as “a very gentle soul” and “a model citizen, who loves his country, his family and culture.”

“Mohammad Soleimani Nia is also the most nonpolitical person I have ever met,” Dumas said.

“He translated ‘Funny in Farsi’ simply because he wanted to share with his fellow Iranians a book that he had enjoyed in English,” she said.

Soleimani Nia also is considered a tech pioneer by his peers; he is credited for launching an Iranian social networking website comparable to LinkedIn called U24, a portal for Iranian professionals seeking jobs.

“Given the high unemployment rate, he should be celebrated for his desire to help the Iranian economy. If he lived in America, he would be called a nerd. In Iran, he’s a prisoner,” Dumas said.

The source who did not wish to be identified gave this chronology of events leading up to Soleimani Nia’s disappearance:

•   In late November 2011, Soleimani Nia was questioned by security and intelligence officers. Friends and family aren’t sure of the reason for that questioning.  Because phones are monitored in Iran, Soleimani Nia was tight-lipped about the experience.  But he said he was barred from leaving the country.

•   On January 10, officials called him to the Revolutionary Court. After arriving, Soleimani Nia was accompanied by security guards to the home he shares with his parents in Karaj. The guards searched the house, seizing electronic devices and documents, and prohibited Soleimani Nia from speaking to his parents.

•   Soleimani Nia was then detained on unknown charges, but released on bail in May. He was freed after suspending a hunger strike after 28 days.

A month later he was told to come pick up his personal possessions.

“We don’t even know if he made it [to the office near Evin Prison] or if he was just kidnaped as soon as he left the house,” the source said. “This is very disturbing. To this point, no authorities have taken responsibility regarding this and we don’t know where he is.”