Neda: the voice of Iran.

[Terrible_Username]

By now I'm sure we've all heard about the cowardly, brutal and disgusting murder of the young protester Neda Soltani in Tehran. If you haven't heard of this yet then just perform a quick search on Google and prepare to be horrified.

What I want to know is this: how on earth does this happen? I know brutality is far from an ancient phenomenon. We need look no further than Kashmir to understand that people are still capable of barbarism. But really... I'm struggling with this.

How can a human being shoot an innocent young woman in the chest? How is that possible?

[Jayhawker Soule]

When theological and/or nationalist certitude trumps humanist sensibility all manner of atrocity becomes possible.

[Terrible_Username]

I thought the Basij was supposed to be a "people's militia" though? Does this really mean a "people's militia" unless you're a person in support of the opposition?

[Terrible_Username]

I suspect that's a stupid question...

[Sunstone]

It is infuriating, but by no means surprising, that an innocent young woman is so casually murdered to protect the privileges and power of a ruling class. This sort of thing happens all the time and is never anything less than criminal.

[Terrible_Username]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

It is infuriating, but by no means surprising, that an innocent young woman is so casually murdered to protect the privileges and power of a ruling class. This sort of thing happens all the time and is never anything less than criminal.

To protect the privileges and power of a ruling class? I hardly think extinguishing this woman will have much effect on the safety of the ruling class, and I suspect the idiot who killed her knew that. It was a cold-blooded, barbaric and pointless act of violence. Let's just hope the remaining protests are performed without incident.

It sickens me that no one will be brought to justice for this.

[Trey of Diamonds]

Originally Posted by Terrible_Username

murder of the young protester Neda Soltani in Tehran.

Was she a protester? I read that she was observing the protests, not actually participating in them. Not that this changes the fact that an innocent young women is now dead at the hands of the Iranian government.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Terrible_Username

I thought the Basij was supposed to be a "people's militia" though?

May I ask why you thought this?

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Terrible_Username

To protect the privileges and power of a ruling class? I hardly think extinguishing this woman will have much effect on the safety of the ruling class, and I suspect the idiot who killed her knew that. It was a cold-blooded, barbaric and pointless act of violence. Let's just hope the remaining protests are performed without incident.

It sickens me that no one will be brought to justice for this.

I agree it was cold-blooded and barbaric, but I think it is naive to believe that terrorizing the protesters fails to serve the interests of the ruling class. But whatever. You believe what you want to believe, and I will do the same.

[Terrible_Username]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

I agree it was cold-blooded and barbaric, but I think it is naive to believe that terrorizing the protesters fails to serve the interests of the ruling class. But whatever. You believe what you want to believe, and I will do the same.

I see where you're coming from actually. However, the Basij has also given the opposition a martyr and a name to chant, which seems only to have fuelled the fires of contempt in the people's hearts.