Neda Video: Neda Agha-Soltan Becomes Symbol of Protest in Iran

by Jon Azpiri | June 21, 2009 at 12:49 pm

32724 views | 61 Recommendations | 73 comments

A video of what appears to be the death of a young Iranian woman named Neda Agha-Soltan has appeared on YouTube. Known as the "Neda video" the shocking footage of the Iranian woman being shot has become a symbol of the ongoing protests in Iran since the disputed national elections held on June 12.

More than 20 people have died during protests yesterday over the Iran election. One death, however, seems to have resonated with people around the world, that of Neda Soltan.

According to yet-to-be confirmed online accounts, Neda, a bystander who was watching rather than participating in a protest, was shot by a police or military officer camped out on a nearby rooftop.

Little is known about Neda Soltan. In Farsi, Neda means "the voice" or "the call," a fitting name given the impact of her death video. Indeed, the image of Neda dying on the streets of Iran may be seen as a call to action for many around the world.

Here is the Neda video. A second Neda Soltan video has also surfaced.

4 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Kholil (not verified)

at 13:32 on June 21st, 2009

Ive heard from AP news that the source of this video has not been independently verified. This video looks as fake as the Iranian election.

green silence (not verified)

at 20:46 on June 21st, 2009

You are really stupid!

cant you see what is happening there?

Elia (not verified)

at 06:34 on June 22nd, 2009

Some of you are so stupid, you even doubt in a shot dead body!Lots of people has died for the freedom as the one you have to write here whatever you want!If you like it, you should support it in place of writing sucha useless comments. They are also young people at your age which are fighting and you are laughing!!!!!!!!!

xarxy jarvo (not verified)

at 16:32 on June 22nd, 2009

Nobody is laughing at the video, u retard. I also watched the video with shock, but then many things in the video did not feel right. Specially the hand movement of the girl. Look carefully instead of arguing. In Iranian election there has been tremendous interest of the foreign media and many news out there regarding the political crisis are simply fake just to provoke the public sentiment.

Look at the video image analysis, and ask yrself in open mind, do u not think that the video could not be a fake? No independent source so far has verified the content of the video, even it could not be verified when the video was taken. Shall we just take yr words for granted and will act on that?

misc stevens (not verified)

at 16:47 on June 23rd, 2009

Wow. Everyone talks like they have witnessed multiple shot gun murders... that is what tv does to you. we are all experts now in the ways of death. You are all stupid.

just_me_1 (not verified)

at 10:01 on June 24th, 2009

I agree wholeheartedly (except for the part about everyone being stupid). Technology has come so far that we think we know what death looks like from viewing movies and video games. Ask any soldier or marine to watch this video and I guarantee you they will not deny that it is real. Death is fast, death is brutal, and a gunshot wound to the chest is almost always fatal.

ali akbar (not verified)

at 07:25 on June 23rd, 2009

if you don't believe it, then to what believe you?

marie sevan (not verified)

at 10:13 on June 23rd, 2009

Of course it's FAKE. How can anyone look at it objectively and think otherwise. It's a sad day when people can no longer distinguish propaganda when they can clearly see it.

People see what they are expected to on the surface and do not test the facts.

M.S.

Aaron Freeman (not verified)

at 03:30 on June 26th, 2009

I'd bet far more money on the reality of Iran's elections than of that fake video. But as a propaganda vid I take my hat off to... my guess is the Mossad.

jonathan dose (not verified)

at 13:51 on June 28th, 2009

Look at this news clip:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3737891,00.html

The bullet found in Neda's head was not of a type used in Iran. "These are the methods that terrorists and spy agencies employ," Iranian Ambassador to Mexico Mohammad Hassan Ghadiri said. "Naturally, they would like to see blood spilled in these demonstrations, so that they can use it against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is of the common methods that the spy agency employs in various countries."

"This death of Neda is very suspicious," Ghadiri said. "She was shot from behind. The location was where there was not much demonstration, there was no police presence and the gun that shot and killed her was a smuggled gun. It was not a government-issued gun… In our view, this would be the work of those who wanted to put more fuel to the flame against the government.

The Iranian ambassador said there were many elements in the investigation into the young woman's death which pointed to suspicions of others involvement

John Doe (not verified)

at 17:17 on June 21st, 2009

Was it fake?
They buried her today. No picture of the dead body?
Lots of misinformation on her name, age, and who she was with.
Sounds and looks fishy.

Rich Lee (not verified)

at 23:23 on June 21st, 2009

That video is fake. I love how people say, "Fake? Didnt you see the blood?" Yes, that's why its so fake. As any nurse, doctor, firefighter. There is a ton of blood on the ground before she ever falls down. (probably from video take #1) And the blood coming from her mouth and squirting from where the mans hands are.... that is not what a gunshot victim looks like.

There is a second video with a man that is even more obvious. I feel bad and think there it's likely people are being killed but that video is a poor forgery.

Skeptic (not verified)

at 12:37 on June 22nd, 2009

I haven't been able to decide for myself whether this is fake or not but I'm leaning towards it being real. The problems you present however can easily be solved. The blood already on the ground appears to be from where she initially fell and rolled around, before people rushed to her aid, you can see that she is attempting to move. People then make her lie down so they can apply pressure. The blood coming from the mouth can easily be faked with with blood capsules, but the blood coming out of the nose is what makes it appear real to me I don't know about you but I would have a hard time sitting perfectly still pretending to be dead while I have fake blood flowing back in my nose and mouth.

After some quick googling around it appears her bleeding does look like a gunshot wound to the chest, where often the lungs are peirced and fill up with blood.

Rich Lee (not verified)

at 13:23 on June 22nd, 2009

If the ton of blood on the ground is from before people picked her up and its all wiped around because she was lying in it, why is there no blood on her clothes? It's a fake. It's sad because it shows they too are distorting the truth.

Rich Lee (not verified)

at 14:24 on June 22nd, 2009

People are also pointing out her left hand, which I didnt notice before. He clearly has something with a tip in it and has it at the ready when the guy she is staring at steps in front of the camera she brings it to her face and presto, blood up her nose.

That and the fact that there is almost a pint of blood on the ground already yet none on her pants. And the fact that blood doesnt seep up and out of someones mouth like that. It would be going at an upward incline if she is lying the way she was with her face upward. If would either need to be coughed up as she tried to breathe or forced up from her stomach but there would have to be way too much blood to cause it to back up and out her mouth the way it was.

The are kids and they dont realize how dishonest propaganda only makes the public distrust what the public believes. The 1980 rebellion bastards that they were relied on taking what they wanted. They arent going to give it up over parlor tricks.

Skeptic (not verified)

at 15:52 on June 22nd, 2009

I think you decided this was fake before you even watched it. It seems you are jumping on anything that can support the belief you already have. I'm still not sure myself because I am very suspicious of it being staged but you are really stretching things.

The blood on the ground and lack of blood on the front all makes perfect sense. She would be bleeding mostly from from her back due to the exit wound being far larger (an example we all know is JFK's fatal shot).

I think you need glasses or to watch the video a few more times. I'm blessed with 20/20 vision so I'll fill you in on what your missing. There is nothing close to a pint of blood on the ground prior to the video what you are probably thinking is a pool of blood is her clothing, look closely it's a robe or shirt. The blood on the ground does nothing but support her being struck down when shot and tried to get up or move while in shock.

You ruined your own point about the facial bleeding and again proved you need to have your vision checked, the blood does flow out in such a way that supports the incline. Again look closely it flows slightly up towards her cheek bones and eyes. Also I brought up the source of the blood being most likely a pierced lung, your right that she should be gagging if she were breathing.... Unless *gasp* she is dead or dying with lungs full of blood. I'm no doctor and learned about the lungs being most likely thanks to Google U, it is also clear that you are not a doctor either and should stopping making bold claims about exactly why and how the blood should flow.

What is your point about the left hand? It looks like it could have been a last flinch before going to the light or from the movement of people trying to save her.

Your first paragraph was little hard to understand with the mashup of his/her but watching it with perfect vision reveals, nothing is CLEAR about that left hand. I think I see what you think is something with a tip but it looks more like a blood stained empty hand.

I started off this response as sitting on the fence to whether or not it's a fake but after watching so many times while writing this, I'm 90% sure it's legit. That other 10% is the distrust of knowing the lengths propagandists will go to.

PS: It might not be your vision, it could a blurry monitor causing you to see what you are seeing.

Rich Lee (not verified)

at 17:21 on June 22nd, 2009

I'm not talking about how it flows across her face. The way her body is positioned the lungs and esophagus would have to be entirely filled with blood for it to travel back up and out her mouth. If she was still alive there would be an effort to expel the blood. There is none, no coughing or reflex movement. Her head is also positioned facing up not to the side where blood might be able to seep out. She would have to push it out her mouth for that. Her head would have to be completely to the side for blood to naturally empty out that way and even then there would have to be enough blood to travel up the inclined angle from her lungs through esophagus and out her mouth. The only place you would see it happen that way is in a movie. It's just not real.

You want it to be real but it doesnt change the facts. It's a fake and a poor one.

Skeptic (not verified)

at 17:55 on June 22nd, 2009

Actually I would much rather it be a fake, this would mean that such a horrible act didn't occur and that would be great! I have no personal stake it it either way. But the only fact here is you need to have your eyes checked. Seriously, you just keep proving my point for me. Maybe you can find someone with proper vision to help you out with this. The blood oozes out of her nose and mouth.

"If she was still alive there would be an effort to expel the blood. "

Your 100% correct, then under your own logic she is dead.

"Her head would have to be completely to the side for blood to naturally empty out that way and even then there would have to be enough blood to travel up the inclined angle from her lungs through esophagus and out her mouth"

I'm glad you now understand how the blood reached her mouth and sinuses. As for the head falling to the side, did you not see the people holding her head up since she was not capable of doing it her self? They had to hold her head because it was naturally falling to the side. Thanks again for helping prove my point.

You can stop pretending you know what your talking about now or keep talking out of your ass and emabarassing yourself.

Skeptic (not verified)

at 18:14 on June 22nd, 2009

"If she was still alive there would be an effort to expel the blood. "

Your 100% correct, then under your own logic she is dead.

You can stop pretending you know what your talking about now or keep talking out of your ass and emabarassing yourself.

boondoggler (not verified)

at 00:03 on June 24th, 2009

Rich Lee,

Have you, perchance, seen the video of the Bud Dwyer courtroom suicide?

Dwyer was an American politician who shot himself in the mouth with a revolver during a press conference that he had called on Jan. 22, 1987.

Here it is, but be WARNED. It is EXTREMELY GRAPHIC.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=860c9b9f3b&p=1

My point is, when the human body is MORTALLY WOUNDED, blood *absolutely* POURS from not only the exit wounds, but from any other point of exit, including orifices.

Regardless of the fact that she was laid on her back, that serious a gunshot wound would MOST DEFINITELY produce IMMENSE amounts of blood in a VERY short period of time.

Bud Dwyer was dead immediately. He didn't need to cough, sputter, or otherwise struggle to evacuate blood. Nor did this young woman.

Can you point out any web sources wherein still frames of this alleged "squirt bottle" of blood is clearly identifiable? If no, I would refrain from making such bold assertions of undeniable fakery.

Rich Lee (not verified)

at 17:54 on June 22nd, 2009

Not only is the point where the blood seeps out her mouth the highest point in the position she is in it is also higher than any puncture wound in her lung, if she were to have one. If she did in fact have a hole in her lung the blood would be seeping out the lower exit points created by the bullet before reaching all the way to her mouth. The blood that would be exiting through the entrance and exit wound (both of which are lower than her mouth) into her body cavity. There would have to be a cough or an involuntary reflex to expel the blood and it that case you would see the it and it wouldn't be seeping out.

If it is cause by the man pushing on her chest, and he would really have to be pushing down on her chest with some force to push blood from a punctured lung out her mouth, it also would seep dramaticly from her mouth. Students may be dying, a girl named Neda may have been shot in Iran, but not the girl in that video, that video is fake.

Skpetic (not verified)

at 18:05 on June 22nd, 2009

"If it is cause by the man pushing on her chest, and he would really have to be pushing down on her chest with some force to push blood from a punctured lung out her mouth"

Moron, I'm sure he was pushing with all his strength. The pressure required would be more then enough to aid in pushing that blood up.

Your NOT a doctor, hell your not even that bright. You should stop pretending you know what your talking about, BEcause your fool!

Persian gal (not verified)

at 00:16 on June 23rd, 2009

Hey...stupid

tell me what's going on in your mind??!! most of you expreince your life through movies which you're watching them all the time. you beleive whatever on those and being far away from REALITY. you judged that video is fake!! how can you say that? how can you prove that? I'm here, in Iran. many poeple killed over here through these days. Neda was 2 years older than me. when I saw her dying pics & video, for 2 days I couldn't eat anything. I'm in middle of this battle. maybe I was killed insead of her.

How can you say that???!!!

In reality everything differs from those bloody movies that you're watching... be honest...

you're too far...

Anonymous 2 (not verified)

at 05:44 on June 23rd, 2009

You complete idiot. There are always people like you prepared to belittle a death and laught at it. Lets have you shot instead, perhaps?

You lot who claim it was a fake are so naive: she was shot straight through her heart, thus puncturing her lungs and probably her windpipe. The pressure of blood flowing out of the heart is immense, and as she lay dying, blood would have been flowing from her heart and through her windpipe. That's a downward gradient, which will have accumulated around her head, hence the blood from the mouth and nose.

Seriously, if you want a propaganda war, look into something else like the New World Order.

Jeff Dee (not verified)

at 05:05 on June 23rd, 2009

Your're an idiot. Someone who has been shot in the chest will bleed from the wound. After the 15 or 20 seconds it takes for their lung or lungs to fill up they will start bleeding uncontrollably from the mouth and nose because most of the blood is hemorraging into the lung. I'm a retired cop and have dealt with plenty of gunshot victims. The video was not faked.

Skeptic (not verified)

at 08:02 on June 23rd, 2009

Maybe Rich Lee is actually Basij

Rich Lee (not verified)

at 09:57 on June 24th, 2009

Yes, I am Basij. You figured it out. The fact is we see tons of videos out of the middle east of "horrible deaths" that the media rallies behind until they are debunked as fakes for the sake of propaganda. There have already been more than one fake video from Iran this week. There are two completely different videos claiming to be of "Neda". Maybe this one is real maybe its not. The point is no one takes it at face value anymore after seeing so much badly faked propaganda videos out of that region.

kennie (not verified)

at 23:26 on June 21st, 2009

A sniper is shooting randomly at innocent people. A young woman falls down as she is hit by a bullet.

My question is: Why didn't these guys panik and run? The first tought that'd pop to your mind in such a situation is GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE. And not HEY COOL I WANNA VIDEOTAPE THIS.

Just watch the vid carefully: At 11 sec she raises her left hand and puts it by her face, the exact same moment the blood starts pouring. My guess is: She had fake blood in her mouth and spit it out. The blood on her nose comes from a syringe that she has in her left hand. The plan apparently was to have the guy on the left step in front of the camera as she uses the syringe. Thats why she is staring to the right so she can time it properly. It didn't quite work tough.

xarxy (not verified)

at 00:15 on June 22nd, 2009

Very nice analogy. Ive noticed it carefully and her hand movement is synced with the blood that pores out from her nose. Notice her left hand carefully u'll understand the trick.

This is a fake video just to create propaganda. Shrewed and cunning job I say.

These students have lost the election and now they r using the means of forgery and lies to come up with a new election. I hope they r not successful in their pursuit.