Ask almost anyone what their lasting image is of the turmoil and near-revolution in Iran last summer and they will answer, "Neda, the young woman who was murdered." For indeed, young Neda Agha-Soltan's death on the streets of Tehran on June 20, 2009, was one of the most public of violent deaths in the world — captured on cellphones, shown on computer screens and beamed into homes in almost every quarter of the world.
The Iranians, who were fighting the fiercest battles against the public that they had yet attempted, were powerless to stop the viral spread of the Neda Factor. Not only was world sympathy fiercely on the side of a beautiful young woman shot down in her prime, but computer wizards were deliberately working to keep proxy servers running day and night to keep the information from being shut down down by Iranian servers. Out-classed and outmaneuvered, Iranian authorities could do little but pull such mean and low-minded stunts such as limiting how many people could attend Agha-Soltan's funeral. They even refused to allow an Imam to be present at her funeral. They were running scared of a woman who never even finished her university education.
HBO's For Neda honors this fearless martyr in programs starting from 9-10:15 p.m. E.D.T/P.D.T. Monday, June 14. (Other HBO playmates are 5:30 a.m. June 14, 4 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. June 17, 3 p.m. June 19, 5: 15 p.m. June 22; noon June 23 and 8:15 p.m June 27). HBO2 dates include 5 p.m. June 20, the actual date of Neda's death, and 9:15 p.m. June 16.
But first a little background. Agha-Soltan's death happened in the wake of the widely suspected rigged elected of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Hated many Iranians, and shown to be an arrogant boor on a public debate, he was expected to lose a national election. Instead, two hours after the ballots were cast, he was proclaimed to have won 60% of the vote.
The populace erupted in anger, Neda Agha-Soltan among them. She was always a rebel, the show's writers proclaim, and give examples of her behavior in school and how she refused to dress in the dour chador of the Iranian revolution.
The show has some impressive guests and exclusive scenes. For the first time, viewers meet her family, something that was forbidden by Iran's ever-tightening governmental authority. Refreshingly, they speak their mind, unfraid of being taken away to jail, for they know that if they are persecuted, another wave of Neda revolution will sweep the world. Angry but resigned father Ali, sometimes weepy mother Hajar Rostami, bubbling sister Hoda, and serious brother Mohammed speak to the camera for the first time.
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Article comments
1 - puya
In Iraq? You should be ashamed of yourself for not even knowing the proper country the revolution took place. Your credibility as a journalist just went down the drain for a lot of people. Get the country right before I read on.
2 - M.A
IraQ? Honestly, after 7 years of invading IraQ I wish Americans would know the difference before IraQ and IraN!! Disgraceful and sloppy - and its not the first time this has happened and sadly wont be the last
3 - doug m
Careful. This experienced journalist hates to be corrected when she makes mistakes. But to be fair that is simply a typo in that sentence. It's not as if she got Nada's gender wrong, which wouldn't have been a surprise.
4 - FCEtier
Yeah, y'all just chill. I know the author AND the editor. This is a typo.
I have every confidence that the editor will atone for this shortly.
5 - Miss Bob Etier
I see there are a few people out there who believe erasers weren't put on pencils for them. Me? I make typos all the time--lots of 'em. I usually catch them before they are published, but a few do get through now and then (they are the real illegal aliens).
#1 and #2: if you would have read further, you would have seen Lynn refers to Iran throughout her article. Simple deduction? Iraq was a typo.
#3 Why are you always so nasty?
Most of us on Blogcritics, whether readers or writers, read A LOT. Sadly, many of the highly edited/proofread books that make it to publication (some on the NYT bestsellers list) contain typos. People aren't perfect. Spell-checkers aren't perfect. And, yes, editors and writers are both people. The evidence of errors in books from big publishing houses does not excuse my errors, but I should think it explains them.
I am glad that our readers have no worse problems than their agitation at our occasional errors (and I wouldn't be surprised if this comment was full of them); too bad one letter blinds them to the quality of the overall work. As for the sniping and character assassination, it's unattractive, reflects poorly on those posting such comments, and demeans this forum.
6 - doug m
Spare the hysterical hyperbole. I am not always nasty as my comments throughout the site clearly indicate, yet that doesn't stop you from your own bit of character assassination. Do as I say and not as I do, eh?
7 - Miss Bob Etier
#6. I'm a parent, and I'm old-school. Of course I believe "Do as I say and not as I do."
8 - JMB aka CL
TROLLS - that's ALL they are, internet trolls- it is SO obvious this is a typo but trolls LOVE to make a big deal about a typo JUST to discredit someone. M.A, Puya, doug m, NICE TRY; the only ones that lost credibility here are YOU.
Go back to your FOX hole... and simmer.
9 - JMB aka CL
funnier yet- if this person supposedly makes so many mistakes writing, why do you bother reading her stuff?
"Hysterical hyperbole"? Look who's talkin'.
PS That is easily resolved by having actual sex. Your aggression will lighten up too, MISS Doug M.