Octavia Nasr | BIO
AC360° Contributor
CNN Senior Editor, Mideast Affairs
Support and solidarity for Iran's opposition continues to be expressed in many ways and forms around the world. In cities such as New York, Stockholm, Istanbul, Vancouver and Rome, supporters of the Iranian opposition movement have been organizing concerts, demonstrations and hunger strikes.
Iranian enthusiasts have been turning street corners of the world’s major cities into activism centers where people gather and show support for Iranians who continue to dispute results of their presidential elections.
In Tehran today, Iranian police cracked down and dispersed thousands of protesters as they tried to commemorate the 40th day of mourning the death of Iran's icon, Neda Agha Sultan. Neda captured the world when her last moment of life and her death were recorded on a mobile phone camera. For Shiite Islam, the 40th day after death marks the final day of mourning.
Outside Iran, in Los Angeles, around the U.S. and across the world, people followed the news on anti-government radio stations where callers shared their eyewitness accounts of today's developments.
The Internet, and its social media, have become the method through which people remain informed – and can support - the opposition movement inside Iran.
This is where news spread about Italian designer Guillermo Mariotto - who dedicated his fashion show two weeks ago in Rome to the green color of the Iranian opposition. His models wore green wrist bands and he appeared at the end of the show wearing a T-Shirt with the words, “NEDA ALIVE,” in honor of the woman who has become known simply as ‘Neda.’
It’s just one of many ways people are paying homage to the 26-year-old whose death became a symbol of the Iranian opposition, and she became the icon of the people's resistance.
| Annie Kate |
July 30th, 2009 5:33 pm ET 40+ days of protesting and still no investigation of the election. The Iranian government must think they can outlast the protesters. However, if they are still protesting now and in about the same numbers as at first then the government may have overcalculated. The government should do a recount with representatives from the protesters and from the government watching the recount to be sure it is done correctly and let the chips fall where they may once an accurate count is obtained. If they don't the peaceful protesters may turn out very unpeaceful in the end - Neda is a lovely sad symbol but she doesn't need any other young Iranians joining her. |
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| nick s |
July 31st, 2009 1:49 am ET This video was loaded on Citizentube please take a look may be news worthy. http://www.citizentube.com/2009/07/new-video-of-snipers-shooting-in-iran.html |
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| Kevin Comer |
July 31st, 2009 1:58 am ET Dear Anderson, Where is the search for truth in your investigative reporting? It's shameful how you gloss over the facts, you only show portions of videos on Iran. Take a closer LOOK at this link that YOU broadcast on your show: The last 3 seconds clearly show the uniformed police firing a HANDGUN into the crowd of unarmed protesters! WHY did you stop broadcasting just prior to this TRUTH on film? Innocent people are being murdered and you are not reporting?? This is a disgrace to the profession, Woodward and Bernstein would be ashamed. Regrettably, |
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| Kevin Comer |
July 31st, 2009 2:50 am ET Take a look at REAL journalism by the BBC on the exact same footage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8177181.stm Maybe you should go back to journalism school. |
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| Golnaz |
July 31st, 2009 5:13 am ET Thank you for writing about Neda and about my country. I don't know how many more young Iranians are going to die and how much more we have to pay for freedom and democracy in Iran... I only know it's not going to end like before this time. We're not going to give up. But we can't do it alone, please keep on supporting us, don't let us down. Don't let Iran, my homeland, be my prison. Thank you. |
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| Nick |
July 31st, 2009 5:34 am ET I think Iran should have been covered much more than it has been. People need to be aware of the abuses and violations of human rights committed by this regime. Thankfully the internet activist group Anonymous has taken a stand to help the Iranian people. |
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| haleh |
July 31st, 2009 5:46 am ET The whole idea of mourning for Neda,is not just that, it is a bigger one, saying to islamic government that iranians donot want them, they should go forever and take their Islam with them. |
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| Sadegh |
July 31st, 2009 6:08 am ET Today we see only the visible part of the iceberg. The volcano of Iranians' anger against the islamic dictatorship will errupt very soon. |
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| Neda |
July 31st, 2009 6:11 am ET Neda.....You Are Always In our Hearts....Be Sure We return your right |
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