He is a writer and translator of German literary works. After his release in early 2010, he moved to Germany where he lives in self-imposed exile. 

Najafi was arrested on December 27th 2009 during the aftermath of the Green Movement demonstrations. Prior to his arrest, he was a freelance journalist and translator. He also had many of his short stories and essays published in different publications, as well as translated German literary works, including those by Friedrich Nietzsche and Franz Kafka and poems written by Hermann Hesse.

Plainclothes officers arrested Reza Najafi at his home on January 1st 2010. Six other writers were arrested at the same time. The security agents had no warrant to search his house and gave no explanation as to why he was being arrested or why the house was being raided.

Following news of his arrest, the German PEN Society issued a statement condemning it. A PEN official said, “Najafi is not a political activist but a man of literature. But as a writer, translator and literary critic, he has always supported freedom of expression.”

Najafi’s family was unaware of his whereabouts. However on January 6th 2010, 11 days after his arrest, he was released. He was never told what he was charged with.

Reza Najafi now lives in exile in Germany where he continues to write and translate.