Neda, a coveted icon

neda.jpg.gif

Image posted on the site "We Are All Neda".

Neda’s blood-stained face and frozen stare has come to symbolise the violent clashes between protestors and police or militia forces in Iran. She has become the icon of democracy advocates opposed to the re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But the authorities are trying hard to break her aura.

Neda, 27, was a philosophy student in Tehran. She was shot in the chest and killed during last Saturday’s protests in the city. Footage of her death was captured on a cellphone camera and were reportedly posted online on Facebook by Hamed R, an Iranian blogger living in the Netherlands.

The circumstances of Neda’s death have been at the centre of a heated debate on the Iranian web. According to her fiancé, Caspian Makan, who spoke on the Arabic news channel Al-Jazeera, Neda was not even protesting that day. She was stuck in traffic with her music instructor due to the protests, and got out of the car to observe the protests when she was shot (see video below). Makan cites eyewitnesses as saying that Neda was deliberately targeted by Basiji militiamen, who theoretically do not have the right to bear arms. According to Makan, Neda was neither pro-Mousavi nor pro-Ahmadinejad, although she did take part in several pro-democracy rallies.

Several other far-fetched versions have circulated on official Iranian media. The Guardian quoted Iranian newspaper Jomhouri Islami as reporting that Neda was shot by a sniper from the People’s Moudjahiddin group, to reinforce anti-government propaganda.

The pro-Ahmadinejad newspaper Javan claimed that expelled BBC correspondent Jon Leyne orchestrated the shooting to enrich his coverage of the protests…

Authorities have not yet opened an official investigation into Neda’s death. She was reportedly buried on Sunday in the outskirts of Tehran, the authorities having apparently refused a public funeral or memorial for her in the capital.

Contributors

Neda, filmed several minutes before her death

Neda is dressed in black and is next to the man in the blue striped shirt 

Saturday June 20, at 7:05pm, Neda dies from a bullet wound to her chest

A discreet homage to Neda on the street corner she died on

Posted here

Neda, an icon for protestors and web users

Posted on Flickr by Steve Rhodes.

One of the Facebook pages dedicated to Neda.

Posted on Flickr by Milad3010.

“By giving this incident so much coverage, the press and media are obstructing the truth”

Mohammad, 24, is an engineering graduate. He supports Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Neda Agha Soltan’s death has not yet been elucidated by an official investigation. I think that, by giving the incident so much coverage, the press and media are getting in the way of the truth. You’re sparking a media war between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the West, and hindering diplomatic relations.

My understanding is that several innocent people have been killed during protests, both by protestors and by police forces. Ten days ago, a little girl and her mother were killed on the way to the nursery by shots fired by protestors, but nobody covered that at the time.

The only thing we’re sure of is that Neda Agha Soltan was shot. We don’t really know who fired. Security forces claim they were not posted near where Neda was killed and say the shot could not have come from police or military forces. They also claim they were instructed not to shoot during the protests. Protestors claim that Neda was shot by a member of the police or militias. But that’s just a theory. A theory doesn’t mean it’s the truth. "

Mohammad Hossein Khoshbayan's picture

Mohammad Hos...

  • Iran
  • Engineering graduate

"The government denies it has blood on its hands, but no-one believes them"

"Rose" is a young Iranian woman who studies abroad. She was in Teheran until last Friday.

"Neda is the symbol of our fight. I'm not surprised the government is saying that she was killed by opposition protesters. They always say that, to pretend they have no blood on their hands. But no-one here believes them"
Rose's picture

Rose

  • Iran
  • Student

Comments

we should not forget them.

“Neda” of a people

Gurgling blood, stifled!

The dust turned into a sandstorm,

Now, in the middle of the desert

The storm is slowing.

Why are the people of Persia crying?

I went to the streets of baton and tear gas,

I could not walk there, escaped

Blood on the pavement.

Let the storms pour to wash the bloods.

In the station of the metro I see them mourn, they sob so loudly.

Put my hands on my ears and … bang.

Anger, frustration I pour into my soul every morning

Their ghosts visit me every day

As I’m wearing my mask, hiding my thoughts

Lighting my cigarette.

*Neda: Name of the girl murdered during protests and the video of her death was distributed online .Her name in Farsi means” a call ”

-hamed's picture

-hamed

  • Iran
  • adminstrative

Flight Simulator enthusiasts rally to build shrine to Neda.

Neda will have a shrine constructed to honor her in FS 2004 / FS X cyberspace.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125590764545

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=125590764545&topic=9900

Adrian Wainer

Unregistered user

Respect Neda Soltani.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohXI3po8hK0

It's Time to say Good Bye
Sarah
When I'm alone
I dream of the horizon
and words fail;
yes, I know there is no light
in a room where the sun is absent,
if you are not here with me.
At the windows
show everyone my heart
which you set alight;
enclose within me
the light you
encountered on the street.
Time to say goodbye. -- I'll go with you
to countries I never
saw and shared with you,
now, yes, I shall experience them.
I'll go with you
on ships across seas
which, I know,
no, no, exist no longer;
it's time to say goodbye. -- with you I shall experience them.
Andrea
When you are far away
I dream of the horizon
and words fail,
and, yes, I know
that you are with me;
you, my moon, are here with me,
my sun, you are here with me
with me, with me, with me.
Time to say goodbye. -- I'll go with you
to countries I never
saw and shared with you,
now, yes, I shall experience them.
I'll go with you
on ships across seas
which, I know,
no, no, exist no longer,
Both
with you I shall experience them again.
I'll go with you
on ships across seas
which, I know,
no, no, exist no longer,
with you I shall experience them again.
I'll go with you.
You and me.

With Love
Adrian Wainer

Unregistered user

To Neda, From Brasil with love.

Unregistered user

To Neda, From Russia with love.

Unregistered user

A song for Neda

Unregistered user

Horray, the protesters in Iran get important support !!!

Three hawkish US Senators claim that Iran's election has been 'rigged' after Tehran firmly warned against any interference in the country's internal affairs.

Two Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain as well as independent Joe Lieberman said on Thursday that the recent presidential election in Iran was rigged, promising to support the protesters of the election results.

The Senators also said they aimed to boost opposition in Iran through funding news broadcast into the country.

Unregistered user

Eyewitness to murder of Neda

The gentlemen who witnessed Neda's death, interviewed by BBC Radio 4 The PM Program Thursday 25th June at approximately 17 minutes in to the package.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00l37l2

Best and Warm Regards
Adrian Wainer

Unregistered user

Turning Point

It is clear from the behavior of Iranian Ruling Council, that they think the Iranian People can be controlled like sheep. I feel certain that they will be proved wrong and that this moment will go down in history as a turning-point, when an educated, intelligent population (with the aid of modern telecommunications/media) self-organized and stud up to a Totalitarian Regime … and Neda is a nexus for this.
We have long passed the point of blindly tolerating the absurd statements and contradicting actions of such Regimes. The Iranian Ruling Council is clearly terrified of their people and so they should be … it is long overdue.
Totalitarian regimes the world over are certainly paying attention … their time is up!

Unregistered user

Democracy advocates?

Except democracy advocates would not just oppose the election of Ahmadinejad...

Unregistered user

Neda's Death One Case, Many Similarity!

During last 12 days, we are hearing from many people involving in demonstrations in Tehran, there are snipers over roofs where it happened, targeting and shooting some who they think have a key role leading people or just frightening others.

I personally heard at least 3 other cases, Neda was not Pro-Reformists as we know she was against the regime and boycotted the election but this is not matter, many people participating demonstrations and clashes also don’t believe reformists may would like to do something regarding democracy in Iran.

There is also something I heard and also read a lot during last 12 days, some judiciary officials at forensic medicine centers asking for "Bullets Fee" to give the body of victims, it is about 1000 Euro for each bullet.

This may be a reason they took out some parts of Nada’s body including bones, there is also a special place for burying these victims in Public Cemetery in Tehran.

I also like to mention one of Persian popular websites had an interview with the man who his wife and daughter were killed by gunshot last Monday in front of Bassij Base near Aazdi Sq. and he said obviously victims killed by Bassij, but pro-government media inside Iran claimed people killed them but they don’t explain why people should attack to a kindergarten and shot to two woman and how they got guns?

Iran's News Channel also claimed Neda killed by protesters in front of camera to make more pressure against the regime and propaganda, another story by some other pro-government is the BBC journalist paid protesters to kill Neda in front of camera!
However this is just a case which we don’t get more information like many other similar cases happening in Iran and families pressed to be silent.

Omid Habibinia's picture

Omid Habibinia

  • Switzerland
  • Media Researcher & Journalist

"Neda’s blood-stained face

"Neda’s blood-stained face and frozen stare has come to symbolise the violent clashes between protestors and police or militia forces in Iran.".....and France24 just LOVES it too!,

Unregistered user