Coming soon: A Death in Tehran
PBS
03-Nov-2009 (4 comments)

With the help of a unique network of correspondents in and out of the country, FRONTLINE investigates the life and death of the woman whose image remains a potent symbol for those who want to keep the reform movement alive.

At the height of the protests following Iran’s controversial presidential election this summer, a young woman named Neda Agha Soltan was shot and killed on the streets of Tehran. Her death--filmed on a cameraphone, then uploaded to the web--quickly became an international outrage, and Agha Soltan became the face of a powerful movement that threatened the hardline government’s hold on power. With the help of a unique network of correspondents in and out of the country, FRONTLINE investigates the life and death of the woman whose image remains a potent symbol for those who want to keep the reform movement alive.

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FG

correction to "Jefferson" passage

by FG on Tue Nov 03, 2009 03:25 PM PST

re: Once again allow me to cite Thomas Jefferson's rival theory of
government as a worthy position for the opposition: that human beings
are universal,  natural and unalienable...

 

It should read: human RIGHTS are universal (Not beings).


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FG

A "must see" for every Iranian over age 10

by FG on Tue Nov 03, 2009 02:56 PM PST

A popular slogan among hard-core criminals goes like this: "If you can't do the time," don't do the crime."   Khamenei and his thugs should have given that some thought before authorizing so much brutality against the people of Iran.

The reason Neda's murder is so compelling are twofold.  First, it captures the essential nature of Khamenei and his regime.  Secondly, it accurately reflects  so many similar crimes against anyone who dares complain of such behavior.

Like avid voyeurs everyone in Iran--not just the opposition--seems to have an unquenchable thirst for details about this crime.  People everywhere will search out this report.  The opposition must do all it can to make sure that every Iranian over age 10 is exposed to the documentary and to the regime's counerclaims since.   Is there any doubt who the people will find credible--especially after so many other whoppers?  

What was done to Neda is only what Khamenei is doing to all the people of Iran.  His error in this case was to do so publicly.  Everyone in Iran knows by now that hundreds of people just like Neda have suffered even longer and more grotesque crimes committed by masked interrogators in his gulags.  It doesn't matter how many cameras or satellite dishes the regime seizes, or how many journalists and bloggers Khamenei arrests--the cat is out of the bag...for good.  Anyone can now see that Khamenei, a self-designated spokesman for Islam, is an ambitious con man with no conception of moral behavior and no sense of humanity than Stalin.

These are time times that try men's souls.  Those who commit such crimes are honored, while innocents who suffer them continue to rot or Khamenei's jails or nurse broken bones from his clubs.   Khamenei not only persists in his criminality, but he arrogantly warns  that anyone who draws attention to them can be prosecuted for "slander" or for "circulating anti-regime propaganda."  Thus it has become obligatory for Iranians to accept lies as fact.   

Once again allow me to cite Thomas Jefferson's rival theory of government as a worthy position for the opposition: that human beings are universal,  natural and unalienable, that they derive from God himself and consequentlly that any government (the Islamic Republic) or ruler (Khamenei) who takes away such rights loses all claims to the people's allegiance and commits a crime against God.

Look up the preamble to the Declaration of Independence online if Jefferson's theory interests you.


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azadi5

Thanks for popsting this

by azadi5 on Tue Nov 03, 2009 09:26 AM PST

Thanks for popsting this FG.

PBS has some great documentaries. This one will be on Tuesday, November 17 at 9pm. check your local listings and channels.


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FG

Copies should put another nail in regime's coffin

by FG on Tue Nov 03, 2009 08:32 AM PST

Get your DVD recorders rolling.  The regime can scream to the high heavens, but--as with news of so many other horrific crimes--it is totally helpless to stop this broadcast or the use Iran's people will make of it. 

I'm sending a copy of this post to the Supreme Leader so he and this thugs grind their teeths.  Some things are simply immune to Khamenei's clubs 'n thugs approach.   Let him shed tears when the consequences of his own actions come to haunt him. If his regime no longer has a shread of legitimacy, who is to blame other than the murderous Supreme Leader?

This documentary should be a gem.  People in and out of Iran have contributed to putting it together.  No doubt it will show the world how the Khamenei regime compounded its crimes by threatening criminal charges against Neda's fiance and the doctor or tried to save her, then harassing Neda's family ever since.

Will the documentary also show how the shamelessly immoral Khamenei tried to turn reality on its head by expropriating Neda as a regime "martyr."  With zero credibility, the regime now attempts to claim that fellow human rights protestors killed Neda solely to make the regime look bad--as if it could look any worse than it does for so many reasons.  Khamenei had even ordered carrot (attempted bribes) and stick (threats) pressures on Neda's mother to compel her assistance.  She has stubbornly resisted.

Such a regime claims to be based on religion and to represent Allah's will, while it's Supreme Torturer claims to be a moral exemplar.   No wonder--given all the crimes he has approved starting with the rigged election, he now tops Ahmadinejad as a figure of mockery among Iranians. 

CIRCULATE COPIES EVERYWHERE IN IRAN

...not just among sympathizers but hopefully to people in the lower ranks of the security services and their families.  It is unfortunate that copies won't be ready in time for the Nov. 4th demonstration but there will be plenty of opportunity subsequently.   The regime can't stop the truth from circulating whether by twitter, graffiti, CDs and DVDs or the internet.  Hopefully the day will come when the regime commands, and no its forces refuse to obey the officers.


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