Category: News Author : Steven Hodson Posted: June 23, 2009
Tags : civil unrest, iran, neda, Neda Soltani, protests
Images can become iconic extremely quickly, identifying movements with a visual is a powerful force in our visual world. What happens though when one of those iconic images turns out to be based on a mistake?
In the ongoing civil unrest in Iran no one image has become more iconic than the one of Neda Soltani, the young woman who was shot down in the streets. The big problem is that the image of Neda Soltani that is being flashed around the world may not be the actual picture of the Neda Soltani that was killed. According to Techdirt the picture we are seeing came about as a result of a misunderstanding of how Facebook works.
Basically, a woman named Amy Beam, who was interested in the Neda Soltani in the video contacted other Neda Soltani’s found on Facebook, and one communicated back with her, and eventually they "friended" each other on Facebook. Soon after, the "living" Neda Soltani posted a translation of an article about the killed Neda Soltani on Amy’s Facebook "wall." However, the way this works, is that along with the post on the wall, it includes the poster’s own avatar/profile photo — in this case the living Neda Soltani. From that, others who were friends of Amy saw the name Neda Soltani, the story about the killed woman, and the photo of the living woman — and assumed they were all the same woman… and from there the photo started spreading like wildfire, including websites, TV, banners and elsewhere. And the really scary part is that the living Neda Soltani is now quite afraid for her life, since she’s suddenly become "the face of the face of the struggle in Iran" despite not being the woman who was shot.
This mistaken picture of Neda has been flashed around the world, it is a part of our collective memories of this time in Iran. We even used the picture in one of our posts about the killing of Soltani. I haven’t been able to find a picture of the real Neda Soltani that was killed but as soon as one shows up we’ll let you know.
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Jun 23, 2009
why is everyone basing this “fact” on someones blog?? dont you think that some REAL news outlet would have caught on and said something??
Jun 23, 2009
and you expect so-called 'REAL' news outlets not to make the same mistake? It's not like they are well known for admitting making a mistake in the first place lat alone correcting on Page 1.
Jun 23, 2009
certainly you cant believe that EVERY news outlet in the world would be in on this!?! if there was a mistake made, other news sources would jump on blaming the first ones who published the wrong info!
Jun 23, 2009
There is a photo of Neda posing for the camera with a westernized looking haircut & smiling that has been included in a lot of articles. She was a beautiful girl. Also, she now has a page on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neda_Soltani
The caption underneath the pic says it was provided to journalists by Neda's fiance. There you can find links to many articles if you're interested in finding out more about her. Such a shame her violent death is what has made her famous.
Jun 24, 2009
I viewed the video of the killing of Neda Soltani several times. I don't think the video is authentic. The girl is shot, her eyes are fixed and unblinking as she looks off to her right, note that people move in front of the camera obstructing the view of her several times. You will notice that it appears she is dead as her arms lay flacid with her eyes fixed. Note as they appear to attempt to keep pressure on the wound and start rescue breathing, her hands suddenly are moving and attempting to grab at or hold onto the men.
Jun 25, 2009
Something very bad has happened….. I had the two videos up of Neda with the white background and they received many views….. Massive views…. i had to take both of them down for the safety of Neda in this picture… please…. and I am begging you … for her safety please take down your picture….I know you are trying to help and spread the truth…. but this is putting her life in danger… Now that I fully understand the seriousness of the situation … I have taken mine down… she is in danger.. … I hope you take it down to help the safety of this innocent girl that is in danger…
come by my channel… we are friends and I hope you will do as i had to ….
If you have ANY questions let me know..//// please don't share this with anyone
I didn't know how to write this without posting for everyone to see…. b
Peace
let me know
PLEASE TAKE THIS DOWN RIGHT AFTER YOU READ IT….. come by my channel….. “brandokelly” and we can talk there….