Sahar Delijani

Sahar Delijani is an Iranian American author known for her work exploring themes of political repression, human rights, and the Iranian diaspora. Delijani was born in Evin Prison in Tehran while both her parents were detained as leftist political activists under the Islamic regime. Her mother spent two and a half years in prison and her father four years, while her uncle was among thousands of political prisoners executed and buried in mass graves. Delijani, her older brother, and her cousin were raised by her grandparents and aunt until their parents' release. At age 12, Delijani moved to Northern California with her family and later graduated in comparative literature from the University of California, Berkeley.

"Children of the Jacaranda Tree" is Delijani's debut novel, focusing on the 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners. The novel received international attention prior to publication and has been translated into 32 languages and published in more than 75 countries. The book has earned recognition including a Women's National Book Association Great Group selection, an Indie Next List placement, a CBS Best Book Club Picks designation, and was a finalist for Italy's Elle Gran Premio.

Delijani's writing has appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Kweli Journal, Bellevue Literary Review, and internationally in Zeit Online, Corriere della Sera, La Nazione, BBC Persian, and DW Persian. She is the recipient of the de Groot Foundation Courage to Write Grant, the Society of Authors and Author's Foundation Grant, and fellowships at Tin House, Art Omi, Hedgebrook, and Monson Arts. Her work has been longlisted for the Granum Foundation Prize and nominated several times for the Pushcart Prize and the Best American Essay Series.

Delijani has appeared on ABC News, Al Jazeera, BBC, NPR, and Channel 4 News to discuss Iran and the political realities of the region. She has written op-eds in major outlets such as Le Monde, addressing geopolitical conflicts and ongoing protests in Iran. Delijani lives in New York City and continues to write about repression, imprisonment, and resistance in Iran, contributing to global conversations on literature, social justice, and Middle Eastern politics.