Neda Agha-Soltan | |
|---|---|
 Photo by Caspian Makan | |
| Born | 23 January 1983 |
| Died | 20 June 2009 (aged 26)[1] West of Kārgar Avenue at the intersection between Khosravi and Sālehi streets,[2] Tehran, Iran 35°43′08.6″N 51°23′30.6″E / 35.719056°N 51.391833°E |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
| Resting place | Behesht-e Zahrā cemetery, southern Tehran |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Alma mater | Islamic Āzād University (second semester of Theology)[3][4] |
| Employer | Family's travel agency[5] |
| Known for | Death during the 2009 Iranian election protests |
| Political party | Known as generally apolitical |
Neda Agha-Soltan (Persian: ندا آقاسلطان – Nedā Āghā-Soltān; 23 January 1983 – 20 June 2009) was an Iranian student of philosophy, who was participating in the 2009 presidential election protests with her music teacher, and was walking back to her car when she was fatally shot in the upper chest.
Eyewitnesses are reported by Western sources as saying Agha-Soltan was shot by a militiaman belonging to Basij paramilitary organization.[6][7][8] Her death was captured on video by bystanders and broadcast over the Internet, and the video became a rallying point for the opposition. Agha-Soltan's death sparked renewed protests against the disputed election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[9]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
jpost.comwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
USATodaywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Who was Neda? Slain woman an unlikely martyr - CNN.com". www.cnn.com.
- ^ Election outrage that turned Neda into a political protester; Guy Adams, The Independent, 24 June 2009
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
farberwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Ahmadinejad: Neda's death is 'suspicious'.com". CNN. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
The 26-year-old's death has come to symbolize Iranian resistance to the government's official election results since it was captured on amateur video. Within hours of its being posted online 20 June, she had become the iconic victim of the Iranian government crackdown. But Iran has been pushing back against eyewitness reports that she was shot by pro-government Basij militiamen perched on a rooftop near a demonstration.
- ^ "Death video woman 'targeted by militia'". 22 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
That's when she was shot dead. Eyewitnesses and video footage of the shooting clearly show that probably Basij paramilitaries in civilian clothing deliberately targeted her. Eyewitnesses said they clearly targeted her and she was shot in the chest.
- ^ "Neda shot by Iranian militiaman, doctor tells BBC". CBC. June 2009.
- ^ "Behind the Photo That Captured an Iranian Woman's Last Moments of Life". 100 Photographs | The Most Influential Images of All Time. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.