The Tragedy of Neda

This post takes a break from the usual frivolity of sports and other items along those lines which I usually post about. Additionally, the above YouTube video may be upsetting to some.

The verdict is still out on the usefulness of so-called social networking Websites. At this point in time I view it as a mixed bag. However, what has taken place in Iran over the last week or so has shown me that there is a meaningful purpose for Twitter and similar sites.

I have been glued to what is going on in Iran in the aftermath of the presidential election. The updates on Twitter and the inability of Iran to censor the “tweets” have fueled this uprising that has occurred.

Sadly, though, 26-year-old Neda Aghasoltan who was attending recent demonstrations with her Philosophy teacher and some classmates was brutally shot in the heart and murdered by Basij motor bikers, when she stopped for a minute to answer her cellphone.

The only information I could find was that her body was handed over to her family by the authorities on the condition that they would have a quick and private funeral in order to not attract attention. The funeral was held under the highest security surveillance and very quickly. Her memorial service was to be held in a famous mosque in Tehran, but the mosque has informed the family that it's been canceled. Furthermore all mosques in Tehran have been ordered not to hold any memorial services related to Neda.

R.I.P. Neda.