Ahmad Tafazzoli

Ahmad Tafazzoli
Prominent Iranian Iranist
Native name	Persian: احمد تفضلی
Born	December 16, 1937 Isfahan
Died	January 1997
Occupation	Writer, Iranologist
Nationality	Iranian

Ahmad Tafazzoli (December 16, 1937, Isfahan – January 15, 1997, Tehran) (Persian: احمد تفضلی) was an Iranian Iranist and professor of ancient Iranian languages and culture at Tehran University.

One of his most important books is Pre-Islamic Persian Literature. Jaleh Amouzegar contributed in editing it.

In January 1997, Ahmad Tafazzoli was found dead in Punak, a suburb northwest of Tehran near Jannat Abad. He was known to have contacts with Iranian academics working abroad, and many of his colleagues believed that the authorities were behind his death, as part of the chain murders of Iran. While the precise circumstances remained unclear, Tafazzoli's death created a climate of fear at the university and discouraged criticism of the government.

See also

• List of unsolved murders
• Persian literature

Other notable Iranologists:

• Abdolhossein Zarrinkoub
• Alireza Shapour Shahbazi
• Richard Nelson Frye
• Ehsan Yarshater
• Mehrdad Bahar

Further reading

• The Spirit of Wisdom: Menog I Xrad : Essays in Memory of Ahmad Tafazzoli ISBN 1-56859-146-2

External links

• Names of 47 victims of political killings in Iran sent to UN Human Rights High Commissioner