Neda Agha-Soltan: Persian Women Iranian Martyrs

(Authors note added 5-13-2012: This article was written right after Neda died. This article however can also be used for educational and historical purposes)

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

As I sat watching TV while my sons fiance tried on wedding dresses Sunday, the graphic pictures of a woman slain on the streets of Iran captured my attention. Her name was Neda and she was struck by a sniper bullet during the Tehran protests over the latest Iranian presidential election. 2 videos were apparently taken, one of them by a nearby bystander with a cell phone.

Neda Agha-Soltan, who was later said to have told her friend 'it's just one bullet', died in the arms of her friend as onlookers stood by helplessly. As I watched this young woman die in front of me on the TV screen I felt a helpless feeling myself, my heart going out to her friend and music teacher Hamid Panahi who repeatedly pleaded with Neda, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, Neda dear."

I had been following the aftermath of the Iranian election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad closely, but to be honest was very shocked to see the massive outrage this election caused. Speculation of stuffed ballot boxes and election improprieties had quickly caused upheaval with civil unrest and protests, like the one that Neda was participating in.

An innocent bystander, with no weapons and not fighting, Neda died an ugly death on the streets of Iran while her friend desperately tried to soothe the fatally stricken woman.

Strangely enough, Neda's name means "voice" or "calling" or "Divine message" in Persian.

Since her tragic death she is now been referred to as the "Voice of Iran" ...leading many to call Neda a martyr for the Iranian people.

Neda Salehi Agha-Soltan (Persian: ندا آقا سلطان - Nedā Āġā-Soltān; born 1982, died June 20, 2009) was an Iranian woman whose killing, during the 2009 Iranian election protests, was captured on video by bystanders. The graphic videos were posted on the Internet, and her name quickly became a rallying cry for the opposition. Neda means "voice" or "calling" or "Divine message" in , and she has been referred to as the "voice of Iran" and "a symbol of pro-democracy protesters battering the Islamic regime" in the world. Her last name has also been spelled as Soltani in some media reports.

As a mother my heart goes out to Neda's family. I think of how Neda's mother will never be able to see her own daughter marry and try on wedding dresses...

As a friend of many my heart goes out to Neda's friends, especially her music teacher who frantically tried to help his friend as she died. As an American and United States citizen I am outraged that Neda died this way, as many are. President Obama said today "I strongly condemn these unjust actions, and I join with the American people in mourning each and every innocent life that is lost".

"She only ever said that she wanted one thing," Caspian Makan, who said he was Soltan's boyfriend, told The Associated Press. "She wanted democracy and freedom for the people of Iran."

Twitterers across the globe are talking about the "rigged" Iranians election which led to Neda's death here:

http://twitter.com/IranRiggedElect

To join the Facebook group on behalf of Neda you can click here.

To all of you who are following Neda's life and her tragic death, and especially to the family of this beautiful woman, my sympathies go out to you. May Neda's courage serve as a symbol for those who seek freedom and to those who seek true peace.

(Dorsi Diaz is a freelance writer/publisher who writes about a variety of topics. You can add her at Twitter here)