Teenager Shot and Killed by Iranian Militia
Posted by Amber Robinson at 11:43 AM on June 22, 2009
She is being called ‘Neda’. In Farsi means “the call” or “the voice”. While reporters are not sure whether this is actually the girl’s real name, there is no doubt that she has become the human face of the Iranian post-election conflict.
Teenage Neda was reportedly watching Saturday’s protests with her father when she was shot through the chest by a Basij (militia) member hiding on a rooftop.
A graphic video of the girl, no older than 16, bleeding to death has been broadcast around the world via YouTube and other internet video services.
With the foreign media barred from covering the demonstrations, Twitter, YouTube and other social networking tools have become powerful rallying points for anti-government protesters inside Iran and around the world.
World leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about the apparently fraudulent election results and the heavy-handed response towards protesters towards the government militia. Over 10 people have been reported to have been killed and over 100 injured in clashes over the weekend.
But as always, sometimes it takes just one tragic human story to provide an impetus for protesters to keep fighting, and for the rest of the world to become involved.
Robin Wright wrote in Time: “Although it is not yet clear who shot “Neda” (a soldier? pro government militant? an accidental misfiring?) her death may have changed everything.”
Image: faramarz@flickr.
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