Paulo Coelho says Iran bans his books

Brazilian author Paulo Coelho has said his books have been banned in Iran and has appealed to Brazil to intervene.

Coelho published on his blog a message from his editor in Iran informing him of the government's decision.

"I strongly hope this misunderstanding will be solved during the week. And I strongly count on the Brazilian government to support me, my books, for the sake of all the values we cherish," Coelho wrote on the blog.

The editor, Arash Hejazi, was shown in video footage during anti-government protests in 2009 trying to save the life of Neda Agha-Soltan, whose death became a symbol of the violence after the disputed elections.

Coelho said he did not know the reason for the ban, but noted that he used social networks to support Hejazi during the violence.

Coelho, whose 1988 allegorical novel, The Alchemist, is one of the best-selling books of all time, said he would make all of his books translated into the Persian language, or Farsi as it is known in Iran, available for free on the internet.

The author, whose sales total at least 300m in 150 countries, added that his work had been selling in Iran since 1998.