In her untimely death Neda Agha-Soltan has become a symbol of freedom in Iran; a martyr for a revolution in the making. On June 20,2009 a bystander captured graphic footage of a young woman dying in the streets of Tehran. The woman had been shot in the chest by plain-clothes Basij paramilitaries while exiting her car to join in a protest against the June 12, 2009 Iran Election.

Mythology about the lovely young woman left to die on the streets of Iran quickly made the rounds on the web and in traditional media. Neda Soltan (also spelled Soltani in some reports) was first reported to be a 16 year old student; she was in fact, a 26 year old travel agency employee. Neda was reported to be a political extremist who was active and known to police in Iran; the 2009 election was actually the first time she had felt compelled to attend a protest and she did not even cast a vote.

Among the many myths about Neda Soltan there were some poetic truths. Her name "Neda" means "voice" or "calling" in Persian, earning her the very fitting designate of the "Voice of Iran." Her death has been similarly dubbed "A Calling for Revolution." The graphic footage released on YouTube of her dying moments, the fear and pain so clear on her face, have earned her an even loftier remembrance as an "Angel of Freedom."

Born in 1982, died June 20, 2009, Neda Soltan will go down in history as a symbol of freedom, her name synonymous with the struggle for democracy in Iran and around the world. Her death is tragic but the message that lives on in her name is inspiring to many, including US President Obama.

On June 23, 2009, three days after her death, President Obama spoke of Neda with these words, "We have seen a courageous women stand up to brutality and threats, and we have experienced the searing image of that woman bleeding to death on the streets." Obama had previously been criticized for being too soft on Iran during the election backlash.

Neda Soltan's death caused many previously silent world leaders to finally speak up in support of the people protesting in Iran. Neda Soltan was so much more than a symbol for Iran and freedom, she was a young woman with hopes and dreams. Engaged to a man she loved, Caspian Makan, Neda was the second of three children who did not support any candidate in the 2009 Iran Election.

"Neda, don't be afraid. Neda, don't be afraid. [obscured by others yelling] Neda, stay with me. Neda stay with me!" an unidentified male voice can be heard to say in the background of one of the death videos. Neda Soltan died a tragic death, but she will now stay with the people of Iran as an enduring symbol of freedom.

Tag your Neda Agha-Soltan stories, photos and video "Neda Soltan" to see them featured here.