Many people inside and outside Iran commemorated Neda Agha Soltan [1]‘s 27th birthday. Unfortunately, Neda was not there to party and instead of receiving gifts, she was shot dead by Basij militia on June 20, 2009, during a protest of thousands against the Iranian presidential election [2] results that declared Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [3]president. Her death was captured on video by bystanders and uploaded to the Internet. She died [4] with her eyes wide open, and her last moments transcended citizen media to mainstream media, reaching millions of people.
Neda, without any doubt, became a symbol for the protesters, who showed their respect to her once more on Saturday.
Nedaye Mihan Sabz (which translates to Neda's Green Homeland) writes [5] [fa] that “green people (in reference to protesters against the Iranian regime) and Neda's family was present by Neda's tomb. They lit candles and decorated her grave with her photographs. Security forces were present.”
Several Iranian blogs also published a photograph [6] of Neda's parents.
Balatariny says [7] [fa] Neda died with her eyes wide open and Iranians should not live with their eyes wide shut.
Bipanahm writes [8] [fa] that many people, including human rights activists and mourning mothers, marked Neda's birthday. He said that security forces at first prevented people from filming the event but then retreated after protests from those present.
Azarmehr writes [9] that Iranians remembered Neda in front of Press TV‘s (the Islamic Republic's television channel) offices in London.
He notes:
Press TV‘s constant lies about Neda to tarnish her image became a focus point for those who wanted to mark this day in London. Iranian expats as well as non-Iranians gathered outside Press TV offices in Hanger Lane to commemorate Neda and at the same time perhaps jolt the conscience of those who are still working for this propaganda arm of the messianic junta in Iran.
He also posts the following photograph from the gathering:
