The Image of Neda
Neda
Much of the world has kept track of events in Iran following the questionable outcome of elections there on June 12 via Twitter. With severe restrictions by the regime in Iran on media coverage and apathy by the news media in the West, Twitter has served to redefine how many of us view the concept of media in the Internet era.
Nothing has been more profound, in my opinion, than watching video of a young woman named Neda Soltan die on the streets of Tehran on Saturday, June 20. She was a student of philosophies at Tehran University. According to reports, she was shot by a police sniper while standing with her father or university professor, watching protesters.
The video is haunting, especially her last moment alive when she looked at the camera as if to seek our help. At least that was what I saw in her eyes.
Neda
The story of Neda is being heard around the world today, carried first by people, sharing on Twitter and online. We no longer living in an era when some editor or TV producer makes decisions for us but rather we are sharing information and drawing our own conclusions.
My feeling is that the image and memory of Neda will endure as an icon, a reminder that we must not permit innocence and peace to be destroyed by tyranny and corruption.
Just let me share this prayer for Neda and others in Iran today.
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Yes, I had that same sense from her expression. “You see me, you see this. It’s up to you now.”
I feel exactly the same way as you do.
Absolutely! The fact that I saw this video only minutes after it was posted and …..i don’t know…i’m haunted by it…..i can’t say more now i have so many words inside me about it, but I can’t put them together and make them come out in a way that does an ounce of justice to her sacrifice and that of the other’s in Iran.
A friend of mine has send me this video. I get shocked. Her last moments looking to the camera where really horrifying. The worst of all is that she is only one of the thousands of people daying every year in this kind of conflicts and wars.
I hope her last moments will help to change things in Iran.
Neda’s eyes say it all; you are right. They are filled with total incomprensible comprehension. I saw it within the first seconds on Twitter and have been haunted since. I try to see her in the seconds prior to the blood emanating from her mouth and further. That leaves her beautiful face with those eyes speaking volumes.
New house, new car, happy in my ignorant bliss. Viewed Neda’s final gaze. Painful dose of reality slammed home… fog of ignorance vanished. The level of hatred for their own countrymen, and humankind, boggles my American mind, moves me to a level of hatred I didn’t think myself capable of.
Please don’t allow yourself to be moved toward hatred. Don’t let yourself be poisoned as they have been poisoned. Oh, they are doing horrible horrible things that defy comprehension and that warrant punishment…we should be sickened, heartbroken, and angry, but hatred is what allows the Iranian government to do the horrible things they do, and we don’t want to be infected with that same darkness. Instead, the continued show of solidarity around the world, the petition to have a UN Human Rights commission established to deal with what’s happening in Iran (http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/omidadvocatescom/)…the determination to support these proactive measures will hopefully do justice to Neda’s horrible murder.
To watch that young woman slowly bleed to death was so powerful. To hear her father’s desperate cries as he watched his beautiful young daughter die slowly, painfully, was heartbreaking. To know that there are others who will suffer similarly is so difficult – but the bravery and conviction that exudes from the faces of the Iranian people as they march the lengths of their streets is the most compelling image of all. A people, gathered as a group, to fight injustice on such a profound level in such impressive numbers is truly earthshaking. I am in awe. And I am deeply sad, on father’s day, for Neda’s father.
Does anyone know Neda’s last name or anything about her or her family?
Hi.yeah I know .Her complete name is Neda salehi aghasoltan , I’m iranian and I’m crying for my compatriot Neda, All of you please help us ,we are not like our shamfull government .
bye
I agree with everything you said. Thanks to the efficiency of the new media coupled with the ingenuity of the Iranian people in utilizing it so quickly, the world, and eventually the Iranian authorities, saw the breathtaking groundswell of the people peacefully protesting the voting fraud. I truly believe Neda’s horrifying death will be a catalyst that will result in real change–I pray for the better. The world is now watching for sure…
You did not die in vain Neda..You are a symbol of a brave soldier in the fight for a country’s rights and freedoms.RIP
As I sat here and watched the video of that beautiful young woman dying in the streets, as protesters wage war for a taste of what America has, the irony doesn’t escape me, as what America has, is slowly being taken from us.
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. How is “what America has” at all being “slowly taken from us”???
There is a dramatic difference between losing an election and living in a country in which you’re shot in the streets for dissent. We are in no way, shape or form at all close to the state of affairs in Iran, and to even slightly suggest that we are is a tragedy in its own right.
I disagreed with most everything the Bush administration did in the last eight years–particularly the invasion of Iraq. I protested that act, in the streets. I wasn’t shot for doing so. Earlier this year, when folks threw “tea parties” (many of which had numerous examples of other offensive hyperbole similar to your own statement, comparing Obama to Hitler and such), folks on the right were allowed to protest their government, without fear of death or imprisonment (so long as they weren’t breaking a statutory law).
The point is that both under Presidents Bush and Obama, we are yet entirely free. We need to stop this silliness of trying to sell our own particular political agendas by way of suggesting that we’re not free when we obviously are. Let’s not confusing “tyranny” with “losing”. You lost the election. Get over it.
thankyou for sharing this so beautifully ~ her story will be the voice that will hopefully affect this oppressive regime & she won’t die in vain. I believe “Neda” in farsi means “calling” how symbolic.
Has there been any independent confirmation that this video is legitimate? It is extremely moving and could become a catalyst for wider attention to what is happening in Iran but it could also be a hoax designed to achieve the same outcome. I’d feel more comfortable if there were some confirmation by an independent news organization of this event. (Even as I type this, it seems callous. That is not, however, my intent.)
She was student of philosophies in tehran univercity , and ………..oh my god .
i see that video and i cant stop my tears ,i cant eat anything, i live in iran ,plz help us and tell the world what happening to us ,beacause all the weblogs are block,plz tell everyone neda ‘s murder tnk
من انگيسي را خوب بلد نيستم ولي به خاطر ندا خيلي گريه كردم اي كاش خون او راهگشاي ازادي تمام ايرانيان باشد
Please don’t let her memory die too. I won’t forget those eyes ever. Long live the Iranian people.
I’m an Iranian girl like ” Neda.”
At first i want to say to Neda, ” GOD bless you”
The only thing that i want all of u to do for us is that to show our helpless to the whole world.
PLEASE HELP US!!!!
I will never forget her eyes.
Here is my poem to commemorate Neda: https://twitter.com/dakster9
I will never forget her eyes.
Here is my poem to commemorate Neda: http://hoopoecafe.blogspot.com/2009/06/rip-neda.html
Very beautiful. Thank you for not leaving us alone.
For Neda Agha Soltan
Tyranny’s vilest deeds fall on innocents. O Neda so young so fair. We think of you tenderly and with despair Shame foes of freedom…Shame.
SILENCE, MY SISTER
For every secret sealed in flame,
Each grief engraved without a name,
I’ll summon tender truths from shame,
With tears my talisman.
I’ll shred the shroud of disbelief
And scatter ashes of relief,
Then weave these words into a wreath
No season can upbraid.
I’ll lift the earth into the sky
So fallen stars again will rise;
Your suffering is my battle cry–
You did not die alone.
I heard that Neda went to the protest with her professor and a few other classmates. The old man next to her was her professor not her dad. As she fell, he kept saying “No fear, Neda, No fear” then once she started bleeding he kept saying “Neda stay, please stayyyyy”. She was innocent. why her? I keep asking myself why did she have to die so young and innocent.
I’d like to thank you all the American people and people from other countries who are supporting the Iranian people. I hope you appreciate the freedom you have in your lands and always remember the people who paid for this freedom with their blood.
her sister name is Hanna and she wrote this letter after her sister death , the title is my last letter to my sister
دیروز در سایت بالاترین مطلبی نوشتم با عنوان “فردا روز
بزرگیه.شاید فردا کشته شوم”. آمدم که بگویم زنده ام ولی خواهرم کشته شد… آمدم بگویم که خواهرم در دستان پدر مرد…. آمدم بگویم که خواهرم آرزوهایی بزرگ داشت…آمدم بگویم که خواهرم که کشته شد سرش به تنش می ارزید… که مثل من دوست داشت روزی موهایش را به دست باد بسپارد ….. که مثل من “فروغ” میخواند و دلش میخواست آزاد زندگی کند و برابر …. و دلش میخواست سرش را بالا بگیرد و بگوید:” ایرانیم”…. و دلش میخواست روزی عاشق مردی شود که موهای آشفته دارد …و دلش میخواست دختری داشته باشد که گیسوانش را ببافد و برایش در گهواره لالایی بخواند….
خواهرم مرد از بس که جان ندارد…. خواهرم مرد از بس که ظلم پایانی ندارد…. خواهرم مرد از بس که زندگی را دوست داشت…. و خواهرم مرد از بس که مردم را عاشقانه دوست داشت.
خواهرم عزیزم کاش وقت رفتن چشمانت را میبستی…آخر آخرین نگاهت جانم را میسوزاند…. خواهرکم بخواب.آخرین خوابت شیرین..
thanks mr henderson
Neda is a iranian Hero
we dont forget her
DOWN WITH DICTATORE
“Those who if a disaster/every thing hated struck them they said:
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
“We are to ALLAH, and we are to Him returning.”
I am still crying for her and many other Iranians who are killed. Can not forget her eyes at all. Let the world know how Iranian people being killed innocently in the streets and the powerful governments around the world just watch them and say their condolences. It is not enough. Please take an action ASAP.
this is the reality of Iranian people.they are really apart from their dictator leaders.Hey world look at her innocent eyes looking at freedom.people of the world,for God sake,don’t forget us Iranian people .Help us to get to freedom.
Is it possible for people in different countries to held a ceremony for her on next sunday?
Mr.Ahmadinejad said ” freedom in Iran is about %100″
How funny!
Neda’s family has no right for helding a ceremony for their innocent
daughter, Is this freedom?
Dear David
Here in Iran we have been restricted. we can not access in many sites such as bbc and voa. could you or anyone who reads this comment please to forward our comments to these sites. please let others know
what is going in our country.
many thanks,
Ali
Thank you David, thank you
We appreciate your attention
I am not sure that the second image belongs to her, I have her passport’s image. I will mail it for you.
The photo of Neda has been updated. Thank you so much for sending it.
David
your welcome
wish you the best
Dear David
Let me first thank you a lot for your attention in what is going in my country, Iran.
Let me give you more information about Neda. Neda was 27 years old and she was studying philosophy. The man who was besides her was not her father, he was her professor.Yesterday she ,her professor and some of her classmates went to take part in demonstration. There,while
they were among the other protesters suddenly her mobile rang, it was strange because most of mobile phones were out of order! for answering her phone, she stopped and she became alone because the others kept walking forward, in that moment 2 people who were driving on a motorcycle came and one of them shot at her and you see what happened.
In persian, Neda meanse calling and she is the calling for freedom.
people are determined to change the name of the street in which she was murdered from Amir abad to Neda.
Dear David you do not know in which circumstances we are! may be it is the first and last comment I wrote for you, Please, please share this comment with others. Please let all people know our problems.
Last night there was a message on Iran’s TV in which people were asked to introduce people who had attended in demonstrations in order to arrest them. We are in danger.
the people were killed were more than 10 people which Iranian government says.
Neda’s family buried her body yesterday but as far as I know by this time, they have no right to held a ceremony for their daughter in mosque! there is a big fear for Iranian government. you know in Iran, Neda has become a symbol for freedom and the government fear each ceremony causes a demonstration!
Iran’s government says the British government is evil as well as the USA’s but I say that the real evil is you, you who kill innocent people.
people all around the world, please held a ceremony not only for Neda but for freedom.
please ask your governments to active more strong specially those who live in the USA.
Again thank you so much and please pray for us.
Regards
Maryam
At the risk of sounding like a cynic, I don’t think her eyes are looking at anything; rather, she is simply losing consciousness. She doesn’t move her head to look at the camera, her eyes simply list to the side. And frankly, this makes it more upsetting to me.
urgent
please let others all around the world know
At this moment, the television of Iran is showing the faces of protesters with a red circle around their faces and ask poople to introduce them. Iranian young people are in danger. please help us. please.
David,
Thank you for this reminder of what we do not want life to be for anyone. A life full of suppression, secrets and darkness. This is shedding light on a horrible situation. I posted a prayer request for Neda and her fellow Iranians on a prayer list I belong to.
Linda
Dear David
I send you a website which has put the new images of Neda in it a few minutes ago. Maybe they will be helpful for your site.
Pray for all Iranians in Iran.
Many thanks for your efforts.
This is the website: http://forum.iranproud.com/neda-ax-t259281.html
http://forum.iranproud.com/ks-dygr-az-nda-t259277.html
Thank you for sharing. I hope many people visit the site in great respect.
David
Like the “tank man” from the Tiananmen Square protests : http://www.newsy.com/videos/protests_in_perspectives
Neda has become a symbol of the revolution. Her death is more effective than rhetoric could ever be.
June 23/2009 at 10:15 am
Thank you David cause of ur attention to what happened in our country . Now i want present this to Neda Soltany . she never dies. Her memory is always alive in our hearts
I fear lest ,in respect of our grief, tears the screen- render —— should be
And ,in the world, this scaled mystery a (revealed) tale ——– Should be.
They say the stone becometh ,in the stage of patience,the (precious) ruby;
Yes;it becometh . But (immersed) in blood, the liver——-Should be.
The outward admonishers who ,in the prayer arch and the pulpit ,grandeur of exhortation —– make
When into their chamber they go, that work of another kind they ——– make
A difficulty, i have .Ask the wise ones of assembly those ordering penitence
Why those oredering penitence ,themselves penitence seldom——— make ?
Thou mayst say,they have no belif in the day of judgement,
That,in the work of the Ruler(God), all this fraud and deceit they ————- make.
O lord place these newly- enriched ones upon their own asses (reward them according to their deeds);
Because, on account of a Turk slave and a mule, all this arrogance,they ———- make.