I have not slept much, my mind has been preoccupied with the events in Iran. I read the messages on Twitter flagged with #iranelection. I use advanced searches to see messages sent from people in Tehran, Qom, and Shiraz. I look through the list of people that I have come to know and trust to various levels.

I have read as people try to find their way to the protests, as they deal with tear gas, and water cannons and gunshots. I have watched videos of the events. The most disturbing is of a young woman shot, and bleeding on the streets. It is too gruesome and I will not embed it here. If you must watch it click on The Death of Neda. She is with her father. The blood gushes out and she dies.

Her story is slowly coming out. Carol Forsloff has written an article, Mousavi Declares Ready for Martyrdom as Iranian Streets Erupt. She quotes a comment from Mousavi’s Facebook page about Neda:

Khameneie! You called yourself, the father of all orphans of Iran-Iraq war, but here you made a father witness the martyrdom of his daughter, in minutes, in his arms. You took away a mans, but Iran's daughter. He didnt believe it at first, saying: Neda, dont be afraid, dont be afraid..then when blood covered her face, he came to and cried: Neda, stay..Neda, stay... Read More!....The doctor who was there was helpless as the shot was in the chest. My dear Neda, you are now loved by all more than ever, my tears are nonstop for you, but you died for Iran to be free and Im proud of you, may you rest in peace in heaven. And you Khameneie, you will certainly pay for this and definitely go to hell!

Over on Newsvine, there is another tribute: Her Name Was Neda...

It has been reported that the name Neda means voice or call in Farsi...
Her name was Neda...
She is the voice of the people. She is a call to freedom.

Yesterday, a person had sent a message saying “Hold the Holy Quran in Tomorrows Demonstration. It is a Mortal Sin to Kill People With Quran in Their Hands.” I don’t believe Neda was holding a Quran in her hands when she was shot, and I am not an Islamic Scholar, but I do believe that the Basij who shot her, along with Shah Ali Khamenei have dishonored Islam and committed mortal sins. Will an Islamic Scholar stand up and issue a fatwa against Shah Khamenei?

Trusted sources are saying that the tanks have now rolled into Iran while others are denying it. Whether these reports are true or not, we shall see soon enough, but it looks like things will only get worse before they get better.

Meanwhile, Sunday is Father’s Day. I will be with my three daughters in quiet and safe quarters. If everyone is well, we will have a nice lunch with our extended family. Yet during this lunch, my mind will go to Neda and her father.

Allāhu Akbar