Sitting comfortably at home, in peace and security, I have been following events, as best as I can, of the struggle for freedom in Iran.
It wasn’t until this morning that I finally viewed the video of the last moments of this young woman, as she enters into her death throe, from a Basiji sniper bullet, ripping through her chest.

I haven’t been the same since.

I have to rant, and get through processing this crime and what it means to me, so that I can sleep tonight, and function tomorrow. Being Father’s Day, the thought of her father, holding her in the final moments of her short life, and living with that pain today, gnaw at me. At the same time, I am safe, and my children and grandchildren are all happy and healthy.

I’m not a stranger to the horrible things people can do to others, though I will never be able to fully comprehend it. I’ve seen people die, many times, from my most beloved, to complete strangers, and rather than get used to it, it is more of a piling on effect.

The execution of this young woman may become a turning point, for the future of Iran, if they are successful in removing the corrupt, vile, and wicked Mullahocracy that they have had to endure for the past thirty years. I not only want to believe that, I have to, or her death will be for no purpose, and I believe God has a purpose for us all.

Her name was Neda Salehi, she was twenty years of age, and her short life ended at 7:05p.m., 20 Jun 09, on Karekar Ave., Tehran, Iran. She was standing next to her father, peacefully holding a sign which simply said “freedom.”
According to a doctor who was at the scene, he had this to say:

A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim’s chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes.
The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St. The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me.

Neda, in Farsi, means “voice” or “the call.” Her name and image have gone international, as a symbol, a voice, a call to the Iranian people to not forget her, and why she was murdered. The threat that Khamenei made in his sermon this past Friday has come true, and his actions and words may be the final statement the Iranians listen to. Khamenei has made a serious mistake, that many egomaniacs have made, and that is to create the most dangerous enemy you can have.
People with nothing to lose, will risk everything they have.

Later that same evening, in east Tehran, the Basiji headquarters building was set ablaze. The protesters/rioters are becoming more emboldened, as they now only have two choices, end the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or face a future with no hope for a better life.

The events of the past week are truly historic, and match or exceed the rioting that led to the IRI in 1979. This is no small matter, and if it continues, and spreads throughout the country, which appears to be happening, this hellish system of government will end. What it will be replaced with is a matter of conjecture, the first step is to rid Iran of the mullahs.

How would I react if someone murdered one of my daughters? I would give my life to gain retribution, and would not rest until the people responsible for this were dead or punished, or both, in alphabetical order or not. I can’t begin to imagine the fear and pain Neda’s family must be experiencing. Their lives have been shattered by a bullet fired from a hired thug, working for the mullahs. I have weapons and training, Mr. Salehi doesn’t, and that makes a significant difference in what his options are for seeking justice for his daughter.

As for the protesters, now that they know, with no reservations, that they can be killed on a whim, at any moment, I hope that they get more serious in their attacks, and start mobbing armed police and Basiji, taking their weapons and communications. Until the barrels of the guns are turned in the right direction, the Iranian people will never know freedom, or the dignity they deserve as humans.

I will close with a lovely poem written for Neda, that was sourced to me by a poster, “Ma Sands.”
Sister, have a short sleep. your last dream be sweet.

Yesterday I wrote a note, with the subject line “tomorrow is a great day perhaps tomorrow I’ll be killed.” I’m here to let you know I’m alive but my sister was killed…

I’m here to tell you my sister died while in her father’s hands
I’m here to tell you my sister had big dreams…
I’m here to tell you my sister who died was a decent person… and like me yearned for a day when her hair would be swept by the wind… and like me read “Forough” [Forough Farrokhzad]… and longed to live free and equal… and she longed to hold her head up and announce, “I’m Iranian”… and she longed to one day fall in love to a man with a shaggy hair… and she longed for a daughter to braid her hair and sing lullaby by her crib…

my sister died from not having life… my sister died as injustice has no end… my sister died since she loved life too much… and my sister died since she lovingly cared for people…

my loving sister, I wish you had closed your eyes when your time had come… the very end of your last glance burns my soul….

sister have a short sleep. your last dream be sweet.

God be with you Neda. May the memory of your short life give strength to those who want freedom, just as you did.

*If any choose to, the following video is of the last fifteen seconds of Neda’s life.
**WARNING** **GRAPHIC**

*CROSS-POSTED* At Nuke’s.

*UPDATE*
From a NYTimes article, it is now believed her name was Neda Agha-Soltan, age 26.