ABS Community Research, Inc.

June 12th was the first anniversary of election fraud in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which spawned the Green movement to take to the streets by the millions for days. The Green movement grew out of a preceding 10+ year student movement, and 31 years of an oppressive regime. The 1979 revolution backfired against the people. With the overthrow of the Shah, the community anticipated there would be spiritual renewal in the culture. However, Islam quickly turned to great violence against the people, and years of atrocities built upon years, hundreds to thousands of innocent Iranians murdered, tortured, publicly, and behind closed doors.

Thoughout this past year, the Iranian people have exhibited a clear and unfettering committment to peaceful process. The citizens are nonviolent, barely employing any methods of self-defense. My one concern: what has the world seen? The community is aware of the atrocities, the threats, the blood, various facets of the Green movement. But, does the global community see only oil/gas, nukes, and terrorist funding?

In recent days, I have seen postings of over 100 martyrs for the green movement, but there are so many more. Thousands have been imprisoned, at minimum. Neda Soltan is one among the slain, well known to the people. But with the number of unknown mass graves, bodies burnt with acid to cover the evidence, missing persons, we don't know how many more there are.

Yesterday, Amir Abbas Fakhravar gave a speech at an event for Neda's anniversary in Toronto with Caspian Makan, Neda's fiance. Please allow me to select a few quotes from Amir Abbas, survivor of the political prisons, and student movement leader:

"'In the name of Almighty, in the name of love, in the name of Iran, and in the name of freedom...Come closer so perhaps we could experience unity together. Get closer to one another so we don't have to be frightened of each other. We could put an end to 31 years of talking behind each other's backs. Perhaps Neda, a beautiful girl who became the face of freedom for Iran a year ago this time. The beautiful eyes of Neda could bring us closer to one another. Could teach us, although Neda did not belong to any one group or political organization...Let us respect each other more than ever before. Look at Neda's eyes, look carefully to those eyes and see if Neda would have wanted us to remain under our individual group logos. Put aside our differences and hold each other's hands so we can support the 74 million of our people inside Iran. Freedom from these, freedom from the grip of this small group of mullahs...For everyone else who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom in the past 31 years.."

Video (Persian): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erMDI6kVsqE