All language subtitles for For.Neda.2010.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

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EVERY CONFLICT
OF THE LAST 70 YEARS

HAS ITS OWN DEFINING IMAGE...

VIETNAM...

CHINA...

IRAQ...

...AND NOW IRAN.

JUNE 20th, 2009,

A YOUNG IRANIAN WOMAN IS
SHOT IN THE HEART BY A SNIPER.

A WOMAN. THIS MARTYRED WOMAN

SUDDENLY BECAME
THE SYMBOL OF EVERYBODY ELSE

THAT WAS MARTYRED
BY THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC.

THE VOICE WHICH YOU ARE HEARING

THAT'S CALLING HER...
"NEDA, PLEASE!
NEDA, PLEASE!"

...IS LIKE "NO, STAY WITH US!

DON'T GO!"
THIS IS JUST SO SHOCKING.

SHE STARTED LOOKING...
LOOKING TO THE CAMERA,

LOOKING TO US.

"LOOK. I'M... I'M DYING.

LOOK. I'M DYING. I WAS KILLED."

AND SHE DIED
WITH OPEN EYES.
THIS WAS AMAZING.

- I WAS THERE. I SAW
- THAT INNOCENT GIRL DYING

JUST IN FRONT OF MY EYES.

AND I KNOW THAT IRAN
WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

AFTER NEDA'S DEATH
AND AFTER THAT VIDEO.

AND PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
WILL NEVER LOOK AT IRAN

THE SAME WAY
THEY LOOKED AT IT
BEFORE NEDA'S DEATH.

- WITHIN HOURS - OF HER DEATH,

NEDA'S DYING MOMENTS,
CAPTURED ON CELL PHONES,

WERE APPEARING
ON COMPUTER SCREENS
ACROSS THE WORLD.

- THE NEDA VIDEO WAS,
- IN MY OPINION,

WAS THE WORLD'S
MOST SUCCESSFUL VIRAL VIDEO.

SOMEBODY WHO
CAPTURED THIS VIDEO
ON THEIR CELL PHONE

WAS ABLE TO GET THAT VIDEO

IN THE HANDS OF PRESIDENTS,
PRIME MINISTERS, KINGS

AND INFLUENTIAL LEADERS
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
IN MATTER OF MOMENTS.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS VIDEO?

- I HAVE.
- WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

IT'S HEARTBREAKING,

AND I THINK
THAT ANYBODY WHO SEES IT

KNOWS THAT THERE'S
SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY
UNJUST ABOUT THAT.

- NEDA'S DEATH FOCUSED
- WORLD ATTENTION

ON MASS PROTESTS AGAINST
EVERY ELECTION IN IRAN.

AS MILLIONS
OF IRANIAN PROTESTERS

WITH THEIR DISTINCTIVE
GREEN WRISTBANDS

MARCHED THROUGH
THE CAPITAL, TEHRAN,

OTHERS WERE SOON
MARCHING WITH THEM

IN OVER 100 CITIES
ACROSS THE WORLD.

NEDA'S BLOOD-SPATTERED FACE

APPEARED ON T-SHIRTS
AND PLACARDS.

PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
WERE MOVED TO HONOR HER.

IN PARIS, THE CELEBRATED
PHOTOGRAPHER REZA DEGHATI

TURNED OVER HIS ENTIRE
STAFF AND STUDIO

TO THE TASK
OF CREATING NEDA MASKS,

WHICH WERE SENT
TO CAPITAL CITIES
ACROSS THE WORLD

AND WORN BY PROTESTERS
RALLYING TO THE CRY

"WE ARE NEDA."

- THE PERSIAN NAME NEDA
- MEANS "VOICE."

NEDA AGHA SOLTAN HAD INDEED

BECOME THE VOICE AND THE SPIRIT

OF AN IRANIAN REVOLUTION.

- PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
- SAT UP AND WATCHED

AS MOMENTS
OF EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE

IN THE FACE OF BRUTALITY

WERE DISTRIBUTED
TO THE WORLD VIA THE NET.

BUT HOW MUCH IS KNOWN
ABOUT THIS YOUNG WOMAN

WHO'S BECOME
SUCH A POWERFUL SYMBOL
TO MILLIONS?

WHO WAS SHE?

WHAT DID SHE STAND FOR?

WHY DID SHE DIE?

HER FAMILY STILL LIVES IN IRAN.

AND THOUGH HER MOTHER HAS
POSTED PICTURES OF NEDA

AND ANSWERED
WRITTEN QUESTIONS
ON THE NET,

NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HEAR

NEDA'S STORY FIRSTHAND.

WAS THERE SOME WAY
OF MAKING DIRECT CONTACT

WITH THIS FAMILY?

ALL FOREIGN MEDIA ARE
BANNED FROM IRAN

AND THOSE WHO TRY
TO ENTER SECRETLY

PUT THEMSELVES AND EVERYONE
THEY MEET AT RISK.

WOULD ANY IRANIAN JOURNALIST

BE PREPARED
TO APPROACH THIS FAMILY?

EVERY RESPONSE WAS NEGATIVE.

AND THEY WERE
RIGHT TO BE AFRAID.

IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS
FOLLOWING NEDA'S DEATH,

IRAN'S CITIZEN JOURNALISTS

WERE POSTING SHOCKING PROOF

OF STATE VIOLENCE
AND ARBITRARY ARRESTS
ON THE WEB.

- WHO WOULD RUN THE RISK
- OF PROVOKING A REGIME

CAPABLE OF THIS KIND
OF VIOLENCE?

AFTER A LONG SEARCH,

A STRONG CANDIDATE EMERGED:

SAEED KAMALI DEHGHAN,

24 YEARS OLD AND A MAN
WITH A REPUTATION
FOR COURAGE.

HE ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE.

SAEED HAD BEEN IN IRAN
DURING THE PROTESTS

REPORTING FOR
THE LONDON "GUARDIAN"
AND C.N.N.

HE WAS ALSO
THE FIRST PERSON
TO DISCOVER

NEDA'S FAMILY NAME
AND THE APARTMENT

WHERE SHE LIVED
WITH HER PARENTS
AND A YOUNGER BROTHER.

SAEED HAD
NO FILMMAKING EXPERIENCE,

BUT WAS GIVEN
A CRASH COURSE
IN THE BASICS

AND A CAMERA THAT LOOKED
SUFFICIENTLY AMATEUR

TO GET THROUGH CUSTOMS
AND SECURITY IN IRAN.

ON NOVEMBER 17th,

SAEED LEFT FOR TEHRAN

VIA PARIS AND DUBAI,

ARMED ONLY WITH
A LIST OF QUESTIONS

FOR NEDA'S FAMILY.

EARLY ON THE MORNING
OF NOVEMBER 20th,

HE EMAILED BACK
WITH THE NEWS THAT

HE'D GOTTEN SAFELY THROUGH
CUSTOMS AND SECURITY

AND WAS NOW READY TO BEGIN

HIS ASSIGNMENT IN TEHRAN.

I WAS COMPLETELY ALONE,

FACING THE GREATEST
CHALLENGE OF MY LIFE.

FIRST I CONTACTED
NEDA'S BROTHER.

FOUR DAYS LATER, I GOT A MESSAGE

THAT THE FAMILY HAD
AGREED TO MEET ME.

I REMEMBER THAT FIRST NIGHT.

I WAS VERY NERVOUS.

MY STOMACH WAS CHURNING.

AS I RANG THE BELL,
I WAS SURE THAT SOMEONE

FROM THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
WOULD APPEAR AT ANY MOMENT.

I WAS WALKING
INTO THE HOME OF THE GIRL

WHO HAD BECOME
THE SYMBOL OF FREEDOM
FOR OUR NATION.

I WAS CARRYING FLOWERS

AND AS I WENT IN,

I SAW NEDA'S PHOTO ON THE WALL.

I WAS SO TENSE
THAT I BURST INTO TEARS

AND THE FAMILY HAD
TO CALM MEDOWN.

AFTER A SECOND MEETING,

THE MESSAGE CAME THROUGH
THAT NEDA'S FAMILY

HAD AGREED TO BE FILMED.

SAEED WAS GOING
IN THE FOLLOWING NIGHT
WITH HIS CAMERA,

AND HE SENT A LIST
OF PEOPLE TO CONTACT

IF THERE WAS NO NEWS
OF HIM AFTER THREE DAYS.

"MY GOD," I THOUGHT.

"I'M ACTUALLY FILMING
IN NEDA'S HOME."

WHEN I WENT INTO HER BEDROOM,

I THOUGHT, "NEDA USED TO
WALK IN HERE EVERY DAY.

THIS IS WHERE SHE SLEPT."

SHE WAS NO LONGER A STRANGER.

NEDA'S MOTHER WAS
IMMEDIATELY WARM TOWARDS ME.

AT FIRST I ADDRESSED HER
AS MRS. ROSTAMI,

BUT IN NO TIME I WAS
CALLING HER MOTHER.

I WAS ALONE IN BRINGING UP
MY CHILD.

MY HUSBAND MOSTLY
WORKED AWAY FROM HOME.

- WE TALKED FOR HOURS
- ABOUT NEDA.

ACCORDING TO HER MOTHER,
NEDA WAS A REBEL

ALMOST FROM THE MOMENT
SHE WAS BORN.

FROM THE AGE OF THREE,

SHE NEVER ACCEPTED CONTROL.

SHE FOUGHT
WITH THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES
NOT TO WEAR A CHADOR

AND SHE WON THAT BATTLE.

IN THOSE DAYS,

ALL HIGH-SCHOOL GIRLS
WHERE WE WERE

HAD TO WEAR THE CHADOR,

BUT SHE REBELLED
AGAINST THIS.
SHE REFUSED.

NEDA WAS THE FIRST GIRL
IN HER SCHOOL

NOT TO WEAR A CHADOR.

NEDA WAS ALWAYS
VERY FRANK WITH EVERYONE.

SHE NEVER SAID ANYTHING
BEHIND YOUR BACK.

SHE ALWAYS USED TO SAY,
"WHY DON'T YOU TELL PEOPLE

WHAT YOU REALLYTHINK?"

ON THE SECOND NIGHT,
NEDA'S ELDER SISTER HODA

DROVE US TO HER OWN APARTMENT

AND SHE CONFIRMED
EVERYTHING HER MOTHER
HAD SAID ABOUT NEDA.

SHE WAS REALLY VERY VERY BRAVE.

AND BECAUSE SHE WASN'T
AFRAID OF EVERYTHING,

SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO LIE.

- NO OPPORTUNITY WAS LOST
- TO SHARE PHOTOGRAPHS,

STORIES, MEMORIES.

I COULD ALMOST FEEL
THE RELIEF TO HAVE
THIS OPPORTUNITY

TO TELL THE WORLD
WHO NEDA REALLY WAS

AND TO BE AS STRONG
AND OPTIMISTIC AS SHE WAS

EVEN IN THEIR GRIEF.

DID NEDA HAVE YOUR SMILE?

SHE WAS ALWAYS SMILING.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO
SEARCH FOR A MOMENT

WHEN SHE DIDN'T WANT TO SMILE.

SHE'S SMILING IN ALMOST
ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS.

SHE WAS ALWAYS SMILING.

- THIS FAMILY WAS HOLDING
- TIGHTLY TO NEDA'S MEMORY.

THIS IS THE LAST
LITTLE DRESS SHE BOUGHT.

SHE NEVER HAD
A CHANCE TO WEAR IT.

- NEDA'S YOUNGER BROTHER
- MOHAMMED WAS

THE CLOSEST TO NEDA.
AS A SIGN OF MOURNING,

HE HAS NEITHER CUT
HIS HAIR NOR SHAVED
SINCE NEDA DIED.

SHE USED TO SAY THAT WOMEN
IN THIS COUNTRY

CANNOT LIVE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.

SHE USED TO SAY, "AS A WOMAN,

I CAN'T EVEN GO OUTSIDE
WITHOUT BEING COVERED UP."

- NEDA'S FATHER ALI WORKS
- FOR A TRANSPORT COMPANY

AND IS OFTEN AWAY FROM HOME,

BUT HE UNDERSTOOD
NEDA VERY WELL.

SHE WAS A FEARLESS CHILD.

THERE WAS NO FEAR IN HER BODY.

I LOVED HER
AND RESPECTED HER SO MUCH
FOR THIS COURAGE.

NEDA... OUTSPOKEN, BRAVE,

CLASHING WITH AUTHORITY
ALMOST FROM THE START.

A FREE SPIRIT CONFINED
BY A REGIME

THAT DOES NOT VALUE
THESE QUALITIES IN A WOMAN.

AFTER THE REVOLUTION,

THE FIRST TARGETS,
THE FIRST VICTIMS

OF THE REVOLUTION WERE WOMEN.

THE FIRST PROGRESSIVE LAW
THEY REPEALED WAS

THE FAMILY PROTECTION LAW,

WHICH PROTECTED WOMEN
AT WORK AND AT HOME.

AND THE FIRST TARGETS
AGAIN WERE WOMEN'S
CLOTHING, THE VEIL.

AND SOME OF THE MOST
REACTIONARY LAWS...

LIKE CHANGING
THE AGE OF MARRIAGE
FROM 18 TO NINE,

DEPRIVING WOMEN OF THEIR
CIVIL AND JUDICIAL RIGHTS...

AND EVERY SINGLE
REACTIONARY LAW,

THE WORSTKIND PERTAINS TO WOMEN.

A WOMAN RISKS ARREST

IF SEEN IN PUBLIC
IN THE COMPANY OF ANY MALE

OTHER THAN A CLOSE RELATIVE.

BY LAW, HER ARMS,
LEGS AND HER HAIR

MUST BE COVERED
WHENEVER MEN ARE PRESENT,

EVEN ON THE BEACH.

- IN THE MAJOR CITIES,
- WOMEN PUSH THE BOUNDARIES

AS FAR AS THEY DARE,

SOMETIMES SPORTING
COLORFUL HEADSCARVES

AND EVEN EXPOSING THEIR HAIR,

BUT THEY RISK ARREST AT ANY TIME

BY THE POLICE
OR THE NOTORIOUS
BASIJ MILITIA,

MEN AND WOMEN CHARGED
WITH MAINTAINING

PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY.

I WAS 15, 16, WALKING
IN THE STREETS OF TEHRAN

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
A BASIJ CAR STOPPED.

SIX OF THEM
GOT OUT OF THE CAR
WITH THEIR AK-47s

AND SURROUNDED ME...

THEY WOULDN'T LOOK AT ME...

AND SAID, "SISTER,
YOUR CHEST IS SHOWING."

MAYBE A QUARTER SIZE
OF MY CHEST WAS SHOWING.

I HAD WORN MY HIJAB
AND TIED IT IN THE BACK.

AND THEY WERE WANTING
TO TAKE ME WITH THEM.

I STARTED TO SCREAM,
"HOW DARE YOU LOOK AT ME

FROM ACROSS THE STREET
AND ARE LOOKING AT MY CHEST.

YOU'RE NO MEHRAM.
I WON'T LET YOU ARREST ME.

YOU HAVE TO
BRING SOMEBODY ELSE
TO ARREST ME."

AND THEY THOUGHT,
"OKAY, SHE'S CRAZY.

WE'D BETTER LEAVE
THIS ONE ALONE."

BUT YES,
IT'S HUMILIATING.
HUMILIATING.

- IN MANY PARTS
- OF THE COUNTRY,

ALL-ENVELOPING BLACK
IS THE NORM.

- AS A WOMAN, YOU HAVE
- TO DISAPPEAR

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
YOU CANNOT BE.

AND SO THE MORE
YOU ATTRACT ATTENTION
TO YOURSELF,

THE MORE YOU ARE TARGETED

BECAUSE YOU ARE
SUPPOSED NOT TO BE.

YOU ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE INVISIBLE.

WHAT IS UNBEARABLE
AND IGNOMINIOUS

IS THE POWER

THAT A REGIME CLAIMS

TO CONTROL YOUR BODY,

AND THIS IS A DIRECT ATTACK

TO YOUR FREEDOM AND DIGNITY.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT MAKES

THE WHOLE ISSUE
OF A DRESS CODE UNBEARABLE.

NEDA HATED THIS HEAD COVER.

SHE WAS TORMENTED
THAT SHE COULD NOT

SWIM IN THE SEA
AND BE HERSELF
IN THE STREET.

SHE REALLY SUFFERED BECAUSE
OF THAT FORCED HIJAB.

- THE LAW RESTRICTS
- WOMEN'S FREEDOM

IN MANY OTHER WAYS.

SHE MAY NOT MARRY
WITHOUT THE CONSENT

OF HER FATHER
OR PATERNAL GRANDFATHER.

DIVORCE IS THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT

OF THE HUSBAND,
WHO AUTOMATICALLY
TAKES POSSESSION

OF THE CHILDREN
AT THE AGE OF SEVEN

OR EVEN EARLIER
IF THE WOMAN MARRIES AGAIN.

MOST SERIOUS OF ALL,

THE VALUE OF A WOMAN'S LIFE,
HALF THAT OF A MAN'S.

IN COURT, THE WEIGHT
OF A WOMAN'S TESTIMONY

HALF THAT OF A MAN'S...

PARTICULARLY UNJUST

IN CASES
OF VIOLENT ASSAULT OR RAPE.

IF THE MAN SAYS,
"NO, I DID NOT ASSAULT
THE WOMAN."

THE WOMAN SAYS, "YES, YOU DID,"

SHE HAS NO CHANCE
OF OBTAINING A CONVICTION
AGAINST THE MAN.

EVEN WORSE,
THE WOMAN WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY

BE INDICTED FOR BRINGING
FALSE TESTIMONY.

- IRAN HAS THE HIGHEST RATE
- OF EXECUTION

OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

AS A PROPORTION
OF THE POPULATION.

APART FROM MURDER,
THE DEATH PENALTY HAS BEEN
IMPOSED FOR ADULTERY,

POSSESSION OF DRUGS,
HOMOSEXUAL ACTS

AND EVEN NON-VIOLENT PROTEST.

- THE AGE OF CRIMINAL
- RESPONSIBILITY

FOR A GIRL IS EIGHT,
FOR A BOY, 14.

IF AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL
COMMITS A CAPITAL OFFENSE,

SHE MIGHT REMAIN IN JAIL

AWAITING EXECUTION
ON HER 18th BIRTHDAY.

FOR CERTAIN CRIMES,
THE DEATH PENALTY IS
NOT ADMINISTERED

BY HANGING BUT BY STONING.

AND STONING HAPPENS IN A WAY

THAT YOU ARE
BEING BURIED IN SAND

OR IN THE GROUND

UP TO YOUR WAIST.

AND THE RULE IS
IF YOU MANAGE TO GET OUT

WHILE PEOPLE ARE
THROWING STONES AT YOU,

YOU ARE FREE. YOU CAN LEAVE.
THAT'S THE RULE FOR A MAN.

HOWEVER, WOMAN ARE
NOT BEING BURIED UP
TO THEIR WAIST

BUT UP TO THEIR BREAST

WITH THEIR ARMS
ALSO BEING BURIED.

SUCH A CONTRAST

BETWEEN THE WARMTH
AND NORMALITY OF THIS FAMILY

AND THAT OTHER IRAN
OUTSIDE THEIR DOORS.

AND SUCH COURAGE,

KNOWING WHAT THIS REGIME
IS CAPABLE OF.

YET THEY FEEL SAFER
BY SPEAKING OUT.

THE FACT IS THAT NEDA'S FAMILY

NOW BELONG TO THE WHOLE NATION,

SO THERE ARE...
PEOPLE FEEL RESPONSIBLE
TOWARDS THEM.

ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO THEM

WILL JUST INCITE A NEW RAGE,

AND I'M SURE
THAT THE GOVERNMENT
DOESN'T WANT THAT.

SO SOMEHOW,
YES, THEY ARE PROTECTED

BY THE LOVE
OF THE PEOPLE
OF IRAN TOWARDS NEDA.

- THE FAMILY HELD
- NOTHING BACK.

NEDA'S POEMS
AND HER PRIVATE DIARIES.

DAY AFTER DAY,
"MEET MEET MEET" AMIR,

THE MAN SHE HAD LOVED
SINCE SHE WAS A TEENAGER

AND MARRIED IN 2004

WHEN SHE WAS 21.

THEY WERE TOGETHER
FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS

AND THEN THEY DIVORCED.

HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY WAS
FROM THE NORTH.

NEDA WAS FROM TEHRAN.

THEY WERE TWO OPPOSITE CULTURES.

SHE TRIED HARD
TO SAVE THE MARRIAGE.

IT WASN'T A BITTER DIVORCE.

SOMEHOW SHE NEVER
STOPPED LOVING AMIR.

SHE ALWAYS SAID
THAT THE WAY SHE LOVED

WAS NOT THE WAY
THAT SHE WAS LOVED.

SHE HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS
WHEN IT CAME

TO AFFECTIONS AND EMOTIONS.

THAT IS WHY
NOBODY COULD SATISFY
HER EMOTIONAL NEEDS.

AMIR...

EVEN I COULDN'T
LOVE HER THE WAY
SHE EXPECTED US TO.

- NEDA'S BOOKS,
- INCLUDING BANNED BOOKS,

WERE PROUDLY DISPLAYED,

AMONG THEM,
HERMANN HESSE'S
"SIDDHARTHA,"

"THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST,"

"ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE"

AND BRONTE'S
"WUTHERING HEIGHTS."

ALMOST ALL THE BOOKS
THAT SHE'S READING

ARE BOOKS THAT, BY NATURE,

ARE SUBVERSIVE OF WHAT
THE REGIME PREACHES.

"WUTHERING HEIGHTS" IS
INTERESTING TO ME,

PARTLY OF COURSE,
BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS.

IT IS ABOUT LOVE, PASSION

AND THE SACREDNESS

OF THE PROFANE.

- AND BEYOND
- "WUTHERING HEIGHTS,"

KAZANTSAKIS'S
"FREEDOM OR DEATH."

- THESE BOOKS
- ARE SO DIFFERENT,

AND THAT SHOWS THE CURIOSITY...

A MIND THAT JUST WANTS TO KNOW,

HAS THE URGE TO KNOW.

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

AND WHAT HER MOTHER DESCRIBED
AS STRONG RELIGIOUS FAITH

BROUGHT NEDA HERE
TO TEHRAN'S AZAD UNIVERSITY

TO STUDY ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY.

AS IN MOST
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
LIKE THIS COURT,

BEFORE THEY CAN ENTER,
WOMEN ARE INSPECTED

TO ENSURE THERE IS
NO TRACE OF MAKEUP,

NO INFRINGEMENT
OF THE STRICT DRESS CODE.

I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN IRAN

AND IT WOULD HAPPEN
AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS,

WHERE THEY WOULD LINE US UP
AND THEY WOULD INSPECT

TO SEE IF ANY
OF THE GIRLS HAD MAKEUP.

THEY WOULD INSPECT
TO SEE IF YOU WERE
PROPERLY DRESSED,

IF YOUR HAIR WAS SHOWING.

AND THE WAY
THE WOMEN WOULD TREAT YOU,

IT WAS AWFUL, REALLY,

THE WAY THEY WOULD
SLAP YOU ON THE CHEEK
IF YOU HAD MAKEUP,

OR COME WITH SOMETHING
AND WIPE THE MAKEUP OFF

VERY HARD AND HARSH.

IT'S VERY HUMILIATING FOR WOMEN.

ILHAM... NOT HER REAL NAME...

WENT TO COLLEGE WITH NEDA.

TO PROTECT HER FAMILY IN IRAN,

HER IDENTITY MUST BE CONCEALED.

ONCE NEDA WAS ARGUING
WITH ONE OF THE WOMEN

ABOUT HER NAIL POLISH

OR MAYBE THE RED LIPSTICK
SHE WORE.

I HAD JUST ARRIVED

AND I WAS ALSO
WEARING RED LIPSTICK
AND PINK HIGH HEELS,

WHICH IS
COMPLETELY FORBIDDEN
IN OUR UNIVERSITY.

THAT WOMAN WAS VERY BUSY
ARGUING WITH NEDA,

AND NEDA WINKED AN EYE AT ME,

LIKE, "OKAY, GO.
I'M ALREADY FIGHTING
WITH HER."

AND I WAS JUST
SNEAKING BEHIND HER

AND RAN AWAY,
AND WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY.

SHE EVEN STARTED
ARGUING MUCH LOUDER

SO THAT THE WOMAN PUT
ALL HER ATTENTION TO NEDA,

AND I WAS JUST
A SNEAKING BEHIND HER
AND THEN RAN AWAY...

TO GO TO THE CAMPUS.

AFTER JUST TWO TERMS,

NEDA DROPPED OUT.

SHE USED TO SAY,
"THE GOD THEY ARE TEACHING US

AT THESE UNIVERSITIES

IS DIFFERENT
FROM THE GOD I WORSHIP."

HER PROFESSOR TAUGHT THEM
ABOUT A VENGEFUL GOD,

BUT NEDA SAID,
"THIS IS NOT MY GOD.

THE GOD I WORSHIP
IS A COMPASSIONATE
AND LOVING GOD."

THE WHOLE IDEA
WITH THIS REGIME IS

THAT BECAUSE
THEY CONFISCATED RELIGION

AND TURNED IT INTO AN IDEOLOGY,

THEY DEPRIVED IT OF EVERYTHING

THAT MAKES RELIGION HUMANE,

OF EVERYTHING THAT
A GIRL LIKE NEDA

WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO.

SO THIS GOVERNMENT,
IN FACT, DESTROYED RELIGION

BY CLAIMING IT
AND CONFISCATING IT.

- YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
- TURNING AWAY

FROM RELIGION IN DROVES
BECAUSE THEY LOOK AND SEE

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING
IN THE NAME OF RELIGION.

WHEN THEY MENTION
THE NAME OF GOD,

YOU SAY IN ARABIC

"BISMILLAH HIR
RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM."

WHAT DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO?

"IN THE NAME OF GOD,
THE COMPASSIONATE
AND THE MERCIFUL."

IT'S WHAT YOU SAY...
IT'S WHAT YOU SAY AS...

AND YET THIS LOT HAVE
INTERPRETED THIS

AS IF TO SAY
"IN THE NAME OF GOD,

THE BAD-TEMPERED AND NASTY."

ACCORDING TO HER MOTHER,

NEDA DECIDED TO PURSUE A CAREER

THAT WOULD GIVE HER
THE FREEDOM TO TRAVEL.

SHE USED TO TELL ME
"EVEN IF IT'S JUST

FOR ONE DAY BEFORE MY DEATH,

I WANT TO LIVE OUTSIDE IRAN."

SHE STARTED TO GO
TO A LANGUAGE COURSE

TO LEARN TURKISH.

- NEDA VISITED TURKEY
- AGAIN AND AGAIN,

SOMETIMES WORKING
AS A TOUR GUIDE.

HERE SHE COULD DRESS
AS SHE WANTED

AND ROAM FREE AMONG FRIENDS,

BUT BACK IN IRAN

HER ONLY FREEDOM WAS
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

DANCING, ARAB DANCING,
WAS HER OBSESSION,

AND MUSIC...
WESTERN AND TURKISH POP.

BUT ABOVE ALL,
THE MUSIC OF GOOGOOSH...

...AN IRANIAN SUPERSTAR.

- NEDA TOOK SINGING CLASSES
- AND PRACTICED THE SONGS

OF HER IDOL, GOOGOOSH.

AFTER THE REVOLUTION,

I LIVED UNDER THAT REGIME
FOR 21 YEARS,

MUCH LIKE NEDA.

I WAS BANNED FROM PERFORMING,

EVEN FROM APPEARING IN PUBLIC.

I SPENT A MONTH IN PRISON.

I WAS INTERROGATED FOUR TIMES

IN EVIN PRISON.

- GOOGOOSH EVENTUALLY
- LEFT IRAN,

FREE AGAIN TO PERFORM.

HER SONGS SPOKE DIRECTLY
TO NEDA'S HEART.

IT'S WONDERFUL
THAT MY MUSIC RESONATED

SO WELL WITH NEDA,

BUT HER VOICE IS
MORE POWERFUL THAN MINE.

SHE SPEAKS TO ALL THE WORLD.

- AS THE FAMILY LAID OUT
- MORE AND MORE

THAT WAS PERSONAL TO NEDA,

IT WAS DIFFICULT
TO THINK OF HER
AS THIS GREAT SYMBOL,

THE VOICE OF THE NATION.

HERE WAS A GIRL

WHO ALWAYS WANTED
TO LOOK HER BEST,

WHO WORKED OUT AT THE GYM

AND FOLLOWED HER OWN
STRICT DIET PLAN.

- A GIRL WHO WANTED
- TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC

AND READ THE BOOKS SHE LOVED,

TO INDULGE HERSELF
IN THE COOLEST FASHIONS

AND WHO DREAMED
OF A RELATIONSHIP

WHERE ALL THE LOVE
SHE COULD GIVE

WOULD BE GIVEN BACK
TO HER IN RETURN.

IN SO MANY WAYS,

ANY GIRL ANYWHERE.

BUT THIS WASN'T ANYWHERE.

THIS WAS THE ISLAMIC
REPUBLIC OF IRAN,

WHERE EVEN THE CLOTHES YOU WEAR

HAVE A POLITICAL MEANING.

NEDA BECAME A HEROINE,

NOT BECAUSE SHE WAS DIFFERENT,

BUT IN FACT SHE SHARED
THE SAME DESIRES

WITH MILLIONS
OF YOUNG GIRLS WHO LIVE
AROUND THE WORLD.

THEY ALL WANT THE SAME THING.

- BUT WHAT DID MAKE
- NEDA DIFFERENT

FROM THOSE MILLIONS
OF OTHER YOUNG GIRLS

WAS HER EXCEPTIONAL
COURAGE AND STRENGTH.

AND IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR

THAT STRENGTH WAS
PUT TO THE TEST.

THE HARD-LINE INCUMBENT

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD,

WAS SEEKING RE-ELECTION
TO THE PRESIDENCY.

THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS
SUSPECT FROM THE START.

MOST OF THE MANIPULATION
AND FABRICATION

HAPPENED BEFORE THE ELECTIONS.

AHMADINEJAD HAD ACCESS
TO GOVERNMENT RESOURCES.

HE WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY

AND SPENT MONEY LIKE
THERE WAS NO TOMORROW.

HE WAS PAYING PEOPLE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS

AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TO VOTE FOR HIM,

BUILDING SCHOOLS HERE AND THERE,

BUILDING ROADS
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN CARE
ABOUT FINISHING THE ROADS.

THEY JUST STARTED
THE ROADS IN ORDER
TO GET THE VOTES.

- BUT THAT WAS JUST
- THE BEGINNING.

475 PEOPLE,
INCLUDING MEMBERS
OF PARLIAMENT

AND FORMER MINISTERS,
HAD PUT THEIR NAMES FORWARD

AS POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS,

BUT AFTER THE ALL-POWERFUL
GUARDIAN COUNCIL

HAD WORKED THROUGH THE LIST,

ONLY THREE
OPPOSITION NAMES WERE LEFT.

ALL OF THEM, OR SO IT SEEMED,

SAFE ESTABLISHMENT FIGURES:

MOUSAVI,
A FORMER PRIME MINISTER;

KAROUBI, A FORMER
PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER;

AND REZAIE, THE FORMER HEAD
OF THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD.

THIS WAS NOT A REVOLUTION
IN THE MAKING.

THIS WAS SIMPLY AN ELECTION

UNDER THE RULES ESTABLISHED
BY THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC.

- AND NEDA, LIKE MILLIONS
- OF OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE,

WOULD HAVE NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT.

SHE USED TO SAY,
"THE ELECTION HAS
BEEN DECIDED.

THE ELECTION IS FUTILE.

IT'S OBVIOUS
THAT AHMADINEJAD
WILL BE PRESIDENT.

THE PERSON WHO HAS
THE MOST FOLLOWERS WILL
NEVER BE PRESIDENT HERE."

- THEN SOMETHING
- REMARKABLE HAPPENED.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,

RIVAL CANDIDATES WENT
HEAD TO HEAD

WITH AHMADINEJAD

IN A SERIES
OF TELEVISED DEBATES.

- THEY ATTRACTED HUGE AUDIENCES.

WHAT THOSE DEBATES DID

WAS IT DEFINED FOR PEOPLE

WHAT THEY DISLIKED
ABOUT AHMADINEJAD.

I MEAN HE CAME
ACROSS AS A DEEPLY DEEPLY
UNPLEASANT CHARACTER,

VERY CERTAIN
OF HIS OWN POSITION,

CONCEITED AND QUITE ABUSIVE
TO HIS OPPONENTS.

HE THREATENED
TO REVEAL VARIOUS DOSSIERS
ABOUT MOUSAVI'S WIFE.

HE SAID,
"SHALL I REVEAL THE FILE?
SHALL I REVEAL THE FILE?"

MOUSAVI QUITE RIGHTLY SAID,
"THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT
WE DON'T WANT.

WE DON'T WANT
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
TO BUILD UP DOSSIERS

ABOUT THE CITIZENS
AND THEN THREATEN
TO REVEAL THEM."

I THINK PEOPLE THEN REALIZED
THAT THIS WAS ALMOST LIKE
A FIGHT TO THE DEATH.

I MEAN, WHEN THE STAKES
BECAME REALLYHIGH,

AND THEY REALIZED
THIS WASN'T JUST
A PIECE OF THEATER,

THEY THOUGHT,
"WELL, LET'S GO VOTE."

- EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST
- DEBATE WAS OVER

PEOPLE WERE CELEBRATING
IN THE STREETS.

NEDA HAD BEEN AT OUR HOUSE
DURING THE TV DEBATE.

AFTER THAT, SHE,
MY HUSBAND AND I DROVE
THROUGH THE STREETS.

NEDA CALLED MOM AND TOLD HER,

"YOU'RE MISSING THESE SCENES.

EVERYBODY IS OUT."

AND MOM COMPLAINED
WHY DIDN'T WE FETCH HER?

IT'S VERY SAD WHEN YOU SEE
THAT JOYFUL WEEK,

AND YOU REALIZE
WHAT FINALLY HAPPENED.

BUT FOR THAT ONE WEEK,

THE ATMOSPHERE
ON THE STREETS WAS EUPHORIC.

- PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT
- SOME CHANGES

CAN HAPPEN INSIDE THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE OF THAT
VERY LITTLE CHANGE THAT
THEY WERE HOPING FOR

THEY WERE SO JUBILANT,
THEY WERE SO HAPPY.

IT WAS LIKE A PARTY SCENE

FOR ABOUT TWO, THREE WEEKS
BEFORE THE ELECTIONS.

THIS SMALLEST HOPE

THAT SOMETHING COULD CHANGE

HAD CREATED AN ENORMOUS ENERGY

AMONG THE YOUNGER POPULATION.

AFTER THE FOUR YEARS
OF DESPAIR THAT HAD
BEFALLEN THE COUNTRY,

WE WERE CLAIMING
OUR OWN DESTINIES
AND THAT WAS EXCITING.

MR. AHMADINEJAD'S SUPPORTERS
WERE ALSO IN THE STREET

AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE
HOW BOTH SIDES RESPECTED

EACH OTHER'S CHOICE,
THAT, "OKAY, THIS PART
OF THE STREET IS FOR US,

THAT PART IS FOR YOU," YOU KNOW?

AND THERE WERE
NO POLICE, NO AUTHORITIES,

BUT PEOPLE WERE
SO GOOD TOGETHER.

IT WAS SUCH
AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE
FOR ALL OF US.

- MIR-HOSSEIN MOUSAVI
- SOON EMERGED

AS THE OPPOSITION FRONT-RUNNER,

ATTRACTING MASSIVE CROWDS
TO HIS RALLIES.

BUT IT WAS HIS WIFE,
ZAHRA RAHNAVARD,

WHO GAVE REAL LUSTER
TO HIS CAMPAIGN,

EVEN HOLDING RALLIES OF HER OWN.

- A WOMAN PLAYING - A MAJOR ROLE

IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN...

THIS REALLY WAS A BREAKTHROUGH

IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN.

JUNE 12th, ELECTION DAY.

THERE WAS REAL OPTIMISM
IN THE AIR

AND PEOPLE WERE
OFF TO THE POLLS
EARLY IN THE MORNING.

THEN SUSPICIONS
STARTED TO BUILD.

OPPOSITION CANDIDATES COMPLAINED

THAT THEIR PHONE
AND EMAIL COMMUNICATION

HAD BEEN OBSTRUCTED

AND THEIR OBSERVERS
DENIED ADMISSION

TO THE POLLING STATIONS.

NEDA WENT WITH MOHAMMED
TO THREE VOTING STATIONS,

BUT THERE WERE
NO REPRESENTATIVES FOR
THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATES.

SHE CLASHED
WITH THE PEOPLE THERE.

SHE SAID, "WELL,
WHOSE REPRESENTATIVEISHERE?"

AND THEY SAID,
"JUST THE REPRESENTATIVE
OF AHMADINEJAD."

SHE SAID,
"THIS IS NONSENSE,"
AND SHE DIDN'T VOTE.

- THAT EVENING, WHILE PEOPLE
- WERE STILL VOTING,

THE BASIJ RAIDED
MOUSAVI'S HEADQUARTERS

AND CLOSED IT DOWN,

CONFISCATING FILES
AND DOCUMENTS.

THE EVIDENCE WAS CAPTURED
ON CELL PHONES.

THEY STARTED A MASS ARREST

OF POLITICAL ACTIVISTS
ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IF YOU THINK IT WAS
A HEALTHY ELECTION

AND YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT
OF THE COUNTRY, WHY THIS?

This is very interesting.

- AND JUST TWO HOURS AFTER
- ALL THE POLLS HAD CLOSED,

STATE TELEVISION ANNOUNCED
THAT AHMADINEJAD HAD SECURED

OVER 60% OF THE VOTES
ALREADY COUNTED

AND WAS HEADING
FOR A RESOUNDING VICTORY.

IN THE EARLY HOURS
OF THE FOLLOWING MORNING,

AHMADINEJAD'S VICTORY
WAS CONFIRMED.

HOW DID THEY KNOW
THAT HE HAD WON BY 63%

WHEN THEY HADN'T
EVEN STARTED COUNTING?

AND HOW...

AND THAT 60% TURNED OUT
TO BE THE FINAL RESULT.

YOU KNOW,
THIS IS SOME KIND
OF FORTUNE-TELLING.

IN MY COUNTRY,
THEY ARE STILL
COUNTING THE VOTES

NOT BY COMPUTER
OR ANY DIGITAL DEVICE

BUT PEOPLE SEE THEM COUNTED.

BUT THIS TIME
IN SIX HOURS THEY FINISHED.

WITHOUT A COMPUTER OR ANYTHING?
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?

ALL SORTS OF THINGS
BUILD UP TO A CASE

FOR A SERIOUS SERIOUS
MISHANDLING OF EVENTS

AND A RIGGING OF THE ELECTIONS.

NEDA WAS SO ANGRY
THAT SHE ARGUED WITH ME.

"YOU TOLD ME THAT
MOUSAVI WOULD WIN.
WHAT HAPPENED?"

WHAT WAS SHOCKING
TO THE POPULATION

WAS THAT EVEN THE LIMITEDCHOICE

THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY GIVEN
TO THEM WAS FAKE.

- IF THE RIGGED ELECTION WAS
- NOT PROVOCATION ENOUGH,

ON THE FOLLOWING EVENING,
SUNDAY, JUNE 14th,

POLICE AND THE BASIJ MILITIA

MOUNTED AN ATTACK
ON TEHRAN UNIVERSITY.

ONE OF THE AGGRESSORS
WAS SO APPALLED AT WHAT
THEY WERE DOING

THAT HE RECORDED
THE ATTACK ON HIS CELL PHONE,

AND LATER POSTED
HIS EVIDENCE ON THE WEB.

FIVE STUDENTS WERE KILLED,

OVER 130 ARRESTED
AND IMPRISONED.

THE NEXT DAY,
SOME OF THE LARGEST CROWDS
EVER SEEN IN THIS CITY

FINALLY ROSE IN PROTEST,

AND NEDA WAS THERE
FROM THE START.

SHE JOINED THE OTHERS IN PROTEST

BECAUSE SHE FELT
THE IRANIAN PEOPLE
HAD BEEN INSULTED.

EVEN IF SHE HADN'T
VOTED HERSELF,

HER MOTHER, HER SISTER
AND HER FRIENDS HAD VOTED.

AND YOU COULD SEE

THESE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

I THINK I SAW AT LEAST
TWO OR THREE MILLION PEOPLE

ON THE STREETS
OF TEHRAN ON JUNE 15th.

THEY CAME OUT TO THE STREETS

AND DEMONSTRATED PEACEFULLY.

IN THOSE FOUR DAYS
I THINK WE REALLY WITNESSED

THE MATURITY...
THE POLITICAL MATURITY
OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.

THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED.

THEY JUST WANTED
THE REVERSAL OF VOTES.

THEY DIDN'T WANT AHMADINEJAD
AS THEIR PRESIDENT.

THEY SAID, "WE HAVE TO BE QUIET.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY PEACEFUL

BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT
THE GOVERNMENT

TO HAVE AN EXCUSE
TO TREAT US VIOLENTLY."

I COULD NOT SEE WHERE

THE CROWD STARTED
AND WHERE IT ENDED.

I WAS JUST GAZING AT THEM,

SAYING, "THAT MANY PEOPLE?"

AND I GOT SO ENTHUSIASTIC,

I JUST SHOUTED
"I LOVE YOU PEOPLE!

I'M SO PROUD TO BE ONE OF YOU!"

I SAW REPRESENTATIVES
OF ALL PARTS OF SOCIETY:

WOMEN WHO HAD
COVERED THEMSELVES
WITH THE CHADOR,

GIRLS WHO WERE MORE OPEN,

BOYS WHO WERE
WEARING SHORT SLEEVES,

MEN WITH LARGE BEARDS.

ALL AGES, ALL CLASSES,

RELIGIOUS,
NON-RELIGIOUS...
ALL OF THEM.

YOU SAW FAMILIES.

A VERY VERY OLD WOMAN I SAW...

SHE WAS ABOUT 90 YEARS OLD...

SHE COULD HARDLY WALK,
BUT SHE CAME.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
WAS THE SILENCE.

THEY DECIDED THAT SILENCE
WOULD SPEAK FOR THEM.

SO THEY DIDN'T SHOUT SLOGANS,

THEY DIDN'T SAY,
"DEATH TO THIS.
DEATH TO THAT."

THEY JUST HELD UP THEIR HANDS,

SHOWING THE VICTORY SIGN.

- AND IT WAS THE WOMEN
- WHO SET THE TONE.

THE WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION
WAS ABSOLUTELY EXCEPTIONAL.

THEY WERE LEADING THE PROTESTS.

YOU SEE AT THE FOREFRONT
OF THE STRUGGLE

NOT JUST MODERN, SECULAR WOMEN,

YOUNG WOMEN LIKE NEDA;

YOU SEE WOMEN WEARING THE VEIL

AND BEING VERY TRADITIONAL

SIDE BY SIDE
WITH THESE OTHER WOMEN.

WOMEN AT THE FOREFRONT,

AND THE YOUNG.

- NEDA SYMBOLIZES - A GENERATION

THAT THIS ELECTION WAS ALL ABOUT

AND THIS GREEN MOVEMENT
WAS ALL ABOUT.

SHE WAS A GIRL

TRYING TO GET MORE FREEDOM.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE POWER.

SHE WASN'T LOOKING FOR POLITICS.

SHE WASN'T LOOKING FOR ANYTHING

OTHER THAN
SOME INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM

AND SOME FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

BASIC RIGHTS.

THAT'S WHY SHE CRYSTALIZES

ALL THOSE HOPES AND DREAMS

THAT WERE SHATTERED
AFTER THE ELECTION.

- AND NEDA WAS ON
- THE PROTESTS EVERY DAY,

SOMETIMES WITH HER SISTER,
HER BROTHER,

EVEN HER MOTHER.

AND ON ONE OF THOSE DAYS,

THREE BASIJI WOMEN
APPROACHED NEDA.

VERY POLITELY,
ONE OF THESE WOMEN
ASKED NEDA,

"DEAR, PLEASE DON'T COME OUT
LOOKING SO BEAUTIFUL."

NEDA SMILED
WITH HER BEAUTIFUL TEETH

AND SAID, "AM I BEAUTIFUL?"

AND THEY SAID,
"YOU ARE VERY VERY LOVELY.

DO US A FAVOR AND DON'T COME OUT

BECAUSE THE BASIJI MEN
TARGET BEAUTIFUL GIRLS,

AND THEY WILL SHOOT YOU."

THEN ONE OF THEM SAID,

"I'M ALSO A PSYCHOLOGIST,

AND I KNOW THE DANGER
OF BEAUTY TO THESE MEN".

- "AND I KNOW THE DANGER
- OF BEAUTY TO THESE MEN."

A DREADFUL OMEN,

AND SUCH AN INSIGHT
INTO THE FUNDAMENTALIST MIND.

BECAUSE THEY CANNOT
CONTROL THEMSELVES

IN FRONT OF BEAUTY.

THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY DON'T
CONTROL THEMSELVES,

THEY WILL LOSE THE PARADISE,

THEY LOSE THEIR RELATION
TO THE GODS...

TO THE GOD,
SO DON'T LOOK AT BEAUTY.

BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT BEAUTY,

THEN THE DEVIL WILL
COME IN YOUR MIND

AND WILL GIVE YOU
SUCH BAD IDEAS ABOUT IT.

THE WHOLE THING
IN THEIR LIVES IS

THAT YOU SHOULD
CONTROL YOURSELF,

AND THEY CANNOT
CONTROL THEMSELVES
IN FRONT OF BEAUTY.

THEY WANT TO KILL IT.

ON JUNE 16th,

FOUR DAYS AFTER THE ELECTIONS,

THE POLICE, THE MILITARY

AND THE BASIJ WERE UNLEASHED.

TO SUPPRESS THIS EVIDENCE,

JOURNALISTS WERE CLEARED
OFF THE STREETS...

SOME IMPRISONED,
OTHERS EXPELLED.

I WAS BEATEN MYSELF
FIVE OR SIX TIMES
WITH A BATON

AND I SAW PEOPLE
BEING PUSHED AGAINST
A WALL AND BEATEN.

THE THING THAT MADE ME
MOST ANGRY, REALLY,

WAS THAT IT WAS
ABSOLUTELY UNPROVOKED.

SUDDENLY, IN A MOMENT,
THEY START SHOOTING.

AND THERE WAS
THIS VERY YOUNG BOY

WHO GOT MURDERED
A FEW METERS AWAY FROM ME.

I STILL HAVE
NIGHTMARES ABOUT HIM.

ONE PERSON COMMENTED
TO ME... HE SAID, "IT'S LIKE
THE MONGOLS HAVE RETURNED.

THERE IS NO LAW
IN THIS COUNTRY."

THE ANARCHY AND THE VIOLENCE
BEING EXERCISED ON THE STREETS

DIDN'T COME FROM
THE DEMONSTRATORS AT ALL.

IT CAME FROM
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED THUGS.

AND BEAUTIFULLY, OF COURSE,

IT WAS ALL CAPTURED
ON THESE CAMERA PHONES.

- CELL PHONES
- AND DIGITAL CAMERAS,

CREATING A MASSIVE PROBLEM
FOR THE IRANIAN AUTHORITIES.

ALTHOUGH THE JOURNALISTS
WERE OFF THE STREETS,

THE INFORMATION STILL
KEPT FLOWING.

WHAT THE AUTHORITIES HAD
FAILED TO UNDERSTAND

WAS THAT
THE IRANIAN PEOPLE
THEMSELVES

HAD THE COURAGE
AND NOW THE KNOW-HOW

TO GET THE EVIDENCE
OUT TO THE WORLD.

THE 2009 DEMONSTRATION
IN IRAN IS THE BEGINNING

OF THE NEW ERA
IN THE WHOLE WORLD,

IN HUMAN HISTORY
OF CITIZEN JOURNALISM.

CITIZEN JOURNALISM.

THROUGH YOUTUBE
AND NETWORKING SITES
LIKE TWITTER,

THE SOUNDS AND IMAGES
OF THE UPRISING

CAME FLOODING IN.

- YOU CAN HEAR THE SCREAMING
- ON ONE SIDE,

PEOPLE RUNNING ON ANOTHER SIDE.

YOU REALLY GET
THAT SENSE OF BEING THERE.

PEOPLE WERE
HOLDING UP THE CAMERA

AS IF IT WERE A SWORD, IN A WAY.

AND THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD

THE RALLYING POWER OF

"IF WE CAN GET
THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY
TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING,

THAT WILL BE
OUR GREATEST DEFENSE,

THAT WILL BE OUR GREATEST HOPE."

THE STATE DEPARTMENT

IN WASHINGTON WAS
QUICK OFF THE MARK.

WORD WENT OUT FROM HERE
TO THE HEADQUARTERS

OF TWITTER IN SAN FRANCISCO,

SUGGESTING THEY MIGHT RESCHEDULE

A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SHUTDOWN

TO A MORE IRAN-FRIENDLY TIME.

JARED COHEN MADE THE CALL

AND SOON HAD
THE ANSWER HE WANTED.

ULTIMATELY, I REMEMBER
GETTING AN EMAIL ON MY
BLACKBERRY LATE AT NIGHT,

THE SAME DAY THAT
I HAD CONTACTED THEM,
SAYING THEY WORKED IT OUT

AND THEY WERE
GONNA RESCHEDULE
THEIR MAINTENANCE

SO THEY'D DO IT
AT A TIME THAT WAS
CONVENIENT FOR IRANIANS

AS OPPOSED TO A TIME
THAT'S CONVENIENT
FOR AMERICANS.

SO THEY DID IT
IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT IRAN TIME.

- THE MESSAGES POURING
- OUT OF IRAN

BROUGHT A STRONG RESPONSE
FROM THE YOUNG...

THE CHILDREN OF THE INTERNET,

CONVERSING WITH EACH OTHER

AND INFLUENCING EACH OTHER
ACROSS NATIONAL BORDERS.

MORE AND MORE,
THEY ARE CREATING
A SINGLE COMMUNITY

IN WHICH AUTHORITY IS
CONTINUALLY QUESTIONED.

A PRIME EXAMPLE...
25-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN HEAP.

FREEDOM IS SOMETHING
YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR,

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT
YOU WAKE UP AND IT'S JUST THERE.

THERE'S ALWAYS
SOMEONE OUT THERE
WHO WANTS TO CONTROL YOU,

TELL YOU WHAT
YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.

I DON'T CONSIDER
MYSELF POLITICAL,

BUT WHAT I DO
CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE

IS SOMEONE
WHO REALLY PUSHES BACK

WHEN TOLD WHAT TO DO.

AND I CERTAINLY HAVE
NO RESPECT FOR A GOVERNMENT

THAT USES, YOU KNOW,

BRUTAL AND VIOLENT METHODS
OF CONTROLLING PEOPLE.

- THIS IS LANGUAGE THAT
- NEDA WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD.

THE MORE BRUTAL THEY GOT,

THE MORE DETERMINED
I BECAME TO, YOU KNOW,

NOT GIVE THEM THE POWER
TO SILENCE PEOPLE.

- WHEN THE AUTHORITIES
- IN IRAN TRIED TO STOP

THE INFORMATION FLOW,
FILTERING THE INTERNET,

AUSTIN AND A TECHIE FRIEND
FOUGHT BACK.

CITIZEN JOURNALISM ENABLED.

THE FIRST THING
THAT WE DID, YOU KNOW,

IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH
OF THE ELECTION

WAS SET UP
WHAT ARE CALLED
PROXY SERVERS.

AND A PROXY SERVER...

ESSENTIALLY, YOU CONFIGURE
YOUR COMPUTER TO USE IT

AND THEN IT WILL
BOUNCE YOUR CONNECTION
THROUGH ANOTHER COUNTRY.

SO INSTEAD
OF CONNECTING FROM IRAN
DIRECTLY TO FACEBOOK,

FOR EXAMPLE... WHICH THEY BLOCK...

YOU CONNECT
FROM IRAN TO AUSTRALIA
THEN TO FACEBOOK.

- THE IRANIANS SOON FOUND WAYS
- TO BLOCK THE PROXIES,

SO AUSTIN TOOK
THE CHALLENGE TO ANOTHER
TECHNICAL LEVEL.

WE SAT DOWN AND THOUGHT,

"HOW CAN WE PUSH
THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT

ALL THE WAY UP AGAINST THE WALL?

HOW CAN WE TAKE
THE TECHNOLOGY THEY HAVE

AND USE IT AGAINST THEM?"

- AUSTIN DESIGNED
- A SYSTEM CALLED HAYSTACK.

IT WAS AN INGENIOUS METHOD
OF HIDING ENCRYPTED DATA

INSIDE OFFICIAL
IRANIAN GOVERNMENT TRAFFIC.

SOON THE MAJOR
WESTERN NEWS AGENCIES

WERE TURNING TO AUSTIN

TO GET THEIR INFORMATION
OUT OF IRAN.

I GO FROM BEING A 24-YEAR-OLD,

SPENDING MY TIME
PLAYING VIDEO GAMES

AND HANGING OUT WITH MY FRIENDS

TO ALL OF A SUDDEN
HAVING TO MAINTAIN

OPEN COMMUNICATIONS
FOR AN ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND ALL THE TIME IN IRAN,

THE GOVERNMENT'S MOOD
WAS HARDENING.

JUNE 19th,

ONE WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION,

THE SUPREME LEADER, KHAMENEI,

ADDRESSES THE NATION.

UNELECTED BY THE PEOPLE,

HE WAS SOMEONE CONSIDERED
TO BE ABOVE POLITICS...

GOD'S REPRESENTATIVE ON EARTH.

BUT ON THAT DAY,
HE CROSSED A LINE.

KHAMENEI MADE HIMSELF
THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE

BY WHOLE-HEARTEDLY
SUPPORTING AHMADINEJAD.

- HE SAID THERE WAS
- NO WRONGDOING,

VOTE RIGGING IS NOT
POSSIBLE IN IRAN,

PEOPLE SHOULD
GO BACK HOME OR OTHERWISE

I'M GOING TO ORDER
THE SECURITY FORCES

TO CRUSH THE DEMONSTRATIONS
BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE.

- WHAT RELIGIOUS LEADER
- STANDS ON FRIDAY PRAYER

IN THE MOST RELIGIOUS DAY
OF THE WEEK

AND PREACHES BLOODSHED,

THREATENS HIS PEOPLE
WITH BLOODSHED

IF THEY COME OUT
TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST?

WHAT KIND OF
A SUPREME RELIGIOUS
LEADER DOES THAT?

ON THAT DAY

THE SUPREME LEADER
WAGED WAR ON THE NATION.

HE VIRTUALLY SIGNED

NEDA'S DEATH SENTENCE
ON THAT DAY.

AFTER KHAMENEI'S SPEECH,

IT BECAME BLATANTLY OBVIOUS
TO MOST PEOPLE

THAT THIS WAS NO LONGER
ABOUT AN ELECTION.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT
WHETHER THE VOTE WAS
RIGGED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

IT'S ABOUT WHETHER
IN THE 21st CENTURY

IN AN EDUCATED COUNTRY LIKE IRAN

THERE IS PLACE FOR A GOD KING.

- WE LIVE IN A WORLD
- WHERE THERE IS NO PLACE

FOR THE GOD KING ANYMORE.

THE NEXT DAY,
ON SATURDAY THE 20th,

WHEN PEOPLE CAME OUT
TO THE STREETS

THEY THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS
A MILITARY REGIME IN POWER.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN

THAT MANY REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS,

POLICE AND PARAMILITARY
BASIJ FORCES

ON THE STREETS IN MY LIFE.

IT WAS EXACTLY LIKE

STARTING A WAR
AGAINST THE PEOPLE.

IT JUST MADE PEOPLE
MUCH MORE ANGRY.

UNTIL YESTERDAY
WE WANTED REFORM.

FROM NOW ON,
JUST WITHDRAWAL
OF YOU FROM POWER.

THAT'S THE END
OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC
FOR ALL OF US.

RIGHT AFTER THAT, I HEARD
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME,

PEOPLE CHANTING,
"DEATH TO KHAMENEI.

- OUR LEADER IS A DICTATOR.
HE SHOULD BE REMOVED."

I BEGGED NEDA NOT TO GO OUT.

SHE SAID,
"I HAVE TO GO.
I HAVE TO GO.

IF I DON'T GO OUT, WHO WILL?"

- ANYONE OUT
- ON THE STREETS THAT DAY

WAS DECLARING
WAR ON THE ISLAMIC
REPUBLIC OF IRAN

AND RISKING
A FEROCIOUS REACTION.

NEDA HAD THOUGHT
ABOUT ALL THE CONSEQUENCES.

SHE KNEW THERE WAS A RISK
SHE'D BE TORTURED,

IMPRISONED OR EVEN KILLED.

SHE KNEW ALL OF THIS,
BUT SHE WAS NOT AFRAID.

NEDA LEFT THE HOUSE AT 3:30.

I RANG HER AT 4:30.

ACTUALLY, I RANG HER
EVERY HALF HOUR.

I ASKED HER WHERE SHE WAS.

SHE SAID, "WE'RE IN AMIRABAD

AND IT'S LIKE HELL."

SHE SAID, "THERE ARE
SO MANY GOVERNMENT
FORCES OUT HERE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY
IN MY LIFE BEFORE."

I ASKED, "WHAT ARE THEY DOING?"

AND SHE SAID
"WHAT DO YOU THINK
THEY'RE DOING?

THEY'RE CHASING US
AND BEATING US."

I PLEADED WITH HER
TO COME BACK HOME.

SHE SAID, "MOM, I WILL.
DON'T WORRY."

I RANG HER AGAIN
AFTER HALF AN HOUR

AND ASKED WHERE SHE WAS.

SHE SAID, "I'M AT THE CLINIC.

THEY THREW TEAR GAS AT US
AND MY EYES ARE BURNING.

I'VE LIT A CIGARETTE
TO STOP THE BURNING."

I BEGGED HER,
"NEDA, PLEASE COME HOME.

PLEASE COME BACK."

SHE SAID, "MOM, OKAY, I WILL."

- BUT NEDA RETURNED
- TO THE FRAY,

FLANKED BY HER SINGING TEACHER

IN HIS DISTINCTIVE
STRIPED BLUE SHIRT.

SHE WEARS A BASEBALL CAP

ATOP THE OBLIGATORY BLACK.

CELL PHONE CAMERAS
CAPTURED THE LAST MINUTES
OF NEDA'S LIFE

AND THE DOCTOR WHO HELD HER

AS SHE DIED DESCRIBES THE SCENE.

- WHAT GRABBED
- MY ATTENTION WAS, FIRST,

SHE WAS SO ACTIVE,

SHOUTING
"DEATH TO THE DICTATOR,"

ACTING,
SUPPORTING OTHERS,
MOVING AROUND

WHILE HER MUSIC TEACHER WAS
TRYING TO PULL HER BACK.

BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP.

I WAS REALLY LOOKING
AT HER WITH ADMIRATION

BECAUSE SHE WAS A WOMAN,

A YOUNG WOMAN, SO COURAGEOUS.

I WAS DYING OUT
OF FEAR OUT THERE,

AND SHE WAS JUST
MOVING AROUND AND SHOUTING,

AND THAT WAS WHY I NOTICED HER.

THEN THE ANTI-RIOT POLICE
TOOK UP THEIR BATONS

AND JUST RUSHED
TOWARDS THE PEOPLE,

SO PEOPLE JUST SCATTERED.

- ALL THE STREETS
- WERE BLOCKED,

SO PEOPLE DIDN'T
KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO.

IT WAS CHAOS.

WE RAN AND NEDA WAS
RUNNING BESIDE ME.

HER MUSIC TEACHER
COULDN'T RUN AS FAST
AS THE OTHERS,

SO NEDA TURNED BACK
ALL THE TIME TO SEE
IF HE WAS OKAY.

- AND THEN WE HEARD - THE BLAST.

I TURNED BACK, LOOKED AT NEDA,

WHO WAS STANDING
ABOUT A METER AWAY FROM ME,

AND I SAW HER

LOOKING UP IN ASTONISHMENT

AND SURPRISE AT THE BLOOD

THAT WAS GUSHING OUT
OF HER CHEST.

AND I RAN TOWARDS HER.

- FROM MY IMPRESSION,
- SHE WAS SHOT IN HER AORTA.

IT IS THE MAJOR
BLOOD VESSEL COMING
OUT OF THE HEART.

NO ONE COULD SAVE HER.

IN A MINUTE, SHE BLED OUT.

HER EYES LOST THEIR LIGHT.

HER HEART STOPPED BEATING,

SHE STOPPED BREATHING

AND I KNEW SHE WAS DEAD.

I KNOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF DEATH.

AND WHEN I REALIZED
THAT SHE WAS DEAD,

I STOOD UP AND TOLD
HER MUSIC TEACHER

THAT SHE'S DEAD. SORRY.

BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE.

- A CAR PASSING BY
- SAW THE SCENE,

STOPPED AND OFFERED TO HELP.

THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE
TOOK HER BODY,

PUT HER IN THE BACK SEAT

AND THE CAR WENT
AWAY WITH HER BODY
AND THE MUSIC TEACHER,

HOPING TO FIND A HOSPITAL.

TWO OR THREE MINUTES
AFTER THE CAR LEFT

WITH NEDA'S BODY,
I WAS STILL STANDING
THERE IN SHOCK.

I SAW PEOPLE PULLING
SOMEBODY TOWARDS US

WHO WAS SHOUTING
"I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HER.

BY GOD, I DIDN'T WANT
TO KILL HER."

- THEY HAD - TAKEN OFF HIS SHIRT

AND THEY WERE BEATING HIM.

SOME EVEN WANTED TO LYNCH HIM.

THE OTHERS DIDN'T
LET THEM DO THAT.

THEY SAID, "WE'RE NOT LIKE THEM.

WE ARE HERE FOR NON-VIOLENCE."

THEY COULDN'T HAVE
DELIVERED HIM
TO THE POLICE.

THEY WERE AFRAID THAT
THEY WOULD COMPROMISE
THEIR OWN IDENTITIES

AND THE POLICE
WOULD ARREST THEM.

SO THERE WAS
NO OTHER WAY OTHER THAN
LETTING HIM GO,

BUT THEY TOOK HIS I.D. CARDS

SO THAT THEY COULD
LATER IDENTIFY HIM

AND DELIVER HIM FOR JUSTICE.

- TO DATE NO ONE HAS
- BEEN CHARGED

WITH NEDA'S MURDER.

YOU CANNOT FIND THE MURDERER.

YOU'LL NEVER FIND THE MURDERER.

IF THE MURDERER WAS NOT
FROM THIS GOVERNMENT,

YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND HIM.

BUT BECAUSE HE IS
FROM THIS GOVERNMENT,

YOU'LL NEVER FIND HIM.

- NEDA WAS BURIED
- THE VERY NEXT DAY

IN ACCORDANCE
WITH MUSLIM CUSTOM,

BUT THE AUTHORITIES
WOULD NOT PERMIT

ANY IMAM TO HOLD
A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY,

EITHER IN A MOSQUE
OR AT THE GRAVESIDE.

I OPENED THE SHROUD,

AND SHE WAS VERY LOVELY.

SHE DIDN'T LOOK
LIKE A DEAD PERSON.

SHE WAS LIKE SOMEONE SLEEPING.

SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL
EVEN AFTER DEATH,

LIKE AN ANGEL.

- IT'S ASTONISHING HOW
- THE GOVERNMENT WAS AFRAID

OF A SIMPLE FUNERAL CEREMONY.

IF SHE WASN'T SHOT
BY THEIR AGENTS,

WHY DIDN'T THEY LET
THE FAMILY DO WHAT

THEY WANTED TO DO WITH THE BODY?

THE OBJECTIVE OF KILLING

IS TO MAKE YOU INVISIBLE.

AND IF ONCE YOU'RE DEAD,
YOU ARE STILL VISIBLE

AND THE SADNESS
OF YOUR PARENTS
IS WITNESSED,

THE WHOLE PURPOSE
OF KILLING YOU IS DEFEATED.

- AND THE CLEARER - IT BECAME

THAT NEDA, THROUGH HER DEATH,

HAD FOCUSED
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

ON THE CONTINUING VIOLENCE
AND REPRESSION IN IRAN,

THE MORE DESPERATE
WERE THE EFFORTS
OF THE REGIME

TO NEUTRALIZE THE NEDA EFFECT.

- FIRST, THE OFFICIAL
- IRANIAN NEWS AGENCY

ANNOUNCED THAT
NEDA AGHA SOLTAN
WAS NOT DEAD,

BUT ALIVE AND WELL,
AND LIVING IN GREECE.

NEXT, THE AMBASSADOR
OF IRAN IN MEXICO

SAID IN AN INTERVIEW
THAT SHE WAS SHOT
BY C.I.A. AGENTS.

Are you seriously accusing

the CIA of killing Neda?

The bullet that we found
in his... her head

was not the bullet that
you could find in Iran.

TWO DAYS LATER,
THE IRANIAN STATE MEDIA SAID

THAT SHE WAS
SHOT BY THE B.B.C.
CORRESPONDENT IN IRAN.

- THEN THE HEAD
- OF THE NATIONAL TV SAID,

"WE HAVE STUDIED
THE VIDEO AND IT'S FAKE.

THIS THING HAS NEVER HAPPENED."

- IN THE NEXT
- OFFICIAL VERSION,

NEDA'S DEATH DID HAPPEN,

AND THE KILLER WAS
NONE OTHER THAN DR. HEJAZI,

WORKING FOR
THE BRITISH SECRET SERVICE.

IT'S LAUGHABLE, ISN'T IT?

IT'S LAUGHABLE THAT THEY THINK

THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY
WITH THESE LIES.

FIRST IT WAS THE C.I.A,
THEN IT WAS THIS,

THEN IT WAS...
IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

- IRAN STATE TELEVISION
- SURPASSED ITSELF

WITH A DOCUMENTARY
ON THE SUBJECT.

How did Neda Agha Soltan
really die?

- TEHRAN-BASED PRESS TV
- RELAYED ITS MESSAGE.

According to the documentary...

- THE REPORTER CLAIMED
- THAT NEDA WAS AN ACTRESS

WHO SPLASHED HER OWN FACE
WITH FAKE BLOOD

BUT WAS MURDERED AFTERWARDS
BY HER COMPANIONS.

It says Hejazi
and Neda's music teacher

are members of a team
that carried out the plot.

THEY BUILT UP
LIES OVER LIES
OVER LIES OVER LIES

AND NOBODY
BELIEVES THEM.
THAT'S A FACT.

EVEN THEY THEMSELVES
DON'T BELIEVE WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING.

- INDEED. THE HARDER THEY TRY
- TO UNDERMINE THE NEDA EFFECT

THE MORE STRONGLY
HER NAME RESONATED

BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IRAN.

- PARIS, 40 DAYS
- AFTER NEDA'S DEATH.

IN MUSLIM TRADITION,

A SPECIAL TIME OF COMMEMORATION.

EACH CANDLE REPRESENTS

A LIFE TAKEN.

AND ALL ARE HONORED
ON NEDA'S 40th DAY.

BUT NEDA'S OWN FAMILY
WAS NOT ALLOWED TO
MOURN PUBLICLY

IN THE TRADITION OF HER FAITH.

ON NEDA'S 40th DAY,

THE 30th OF JULY,

THEY TOLD US TO STAY AT HOME.

IMAGINE THAT.

YOU'RE MADE TO STAY AT HOME

ON YOUR SISTER'S MEMORIAL DAY.

THAT'S TERRIBLE.

- IN SPITE
- OF GOVERNMENT WARNINGS,

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MOURNERS

MADE THE 12-MILE JOURNEY

FROM THE CITY TO TEHRAN'S
BEHESHT-E ZAHRA CEMETERY

TO HONOR NEDA AND THOSE WHO DIED

IN THE SAME CAUSE,

SHOUTING "OUR NEDA IS NOT DEAD!

THIS GOVERNMENT IS DEAD!"

THEY WERE MET BY ARMED POLICE

AND MILITIA WHO USED TEAR GAS

AGAINST THE MOURNERS.

RECENT EVENTS HAVE
SHOWN HOW POWERLESS

AND HOW FEARFUL THIS REGIME IS

AND THAT VIOLENCE IS
THE LAST THING LEFT
IN ITS ARSENAL.

ANDNOREGIME

IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN ITSELF

JUST PURELY ON VIOLENCE.

- BUT HOW LONG CAN
- THEY HOLD THE LINE?

FIVE YEARS FROM NOW,
WILL AHMADINEJAD STILL
BE IN POWER?

WILL THE SUPREME LEADER
STILL REIGN SUPREME?

WHAT IS THE FUTURE HERE?

DID NEDA DIE IN VAIN?

- NEDA IS ALREADY
- THE SYMBOL OF FREEDOM.

IN THE NEW REPUBLIC OF IRAN,

SHE WILL BE REMEMBERED

AS BEING

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MODELS

AND HEROES OF THIS FREEDOM.

NEDA DIDN'T DIE IN VAIN,

AND THEY WON'T
LET HER DIE IN VAIN.

NOT HER,
NOT EVERY OTHER LIFE
THAT'S BEEN LOST.

THEY WILL CHANGE IRAN.

IT'S OVER. IT'S OVER.

IT'S A LONG BATTLE AHEAD,

BUT IT IS THE BEGINNING
OF THE END.

- THE IRANIAN POET
- AHMAD SHAMLOU ONCE WROTE

"OUR DIGNITY HAS BEEN BARTERED.

WE HAD ALL THE WORDS
IN THE WORLD,

YET WE DID NOT UTTER
THE ONLY WORD

THAT MATTERED... FREEDOM."

Subtitles Diego Moraes(oakislandtk)
www.opensubtitles.org

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