Thursday
Mar252010
UPDATED Iran: The Controversy over Neda's "Fiance"
Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 18:22 
UPDATE 25 MARCH: Masih Alinejad has posted an update, apologising for mis-representing the relationship between Caspian Makan and Neda Agha Soltan.UPDATE 2115 GMT: Developments tonight. BBC Persian is featuring an interview with Neda Agha Soltan's mother, Hajjar Rostami-Motlagh, who emphasises that Caspian Makan did not represent the Soltan family in his trip to Israel.
Rostami-Motlagh, contradicting stories on websites, said that Makan and Neda were in a relationship at the time of her death and were on their way to marriage. However, saying that her daughter was not political, Rostami-Motlagh asked that her spirit be "left in peace".
The Soltan family rejected the claim that Makan was representing the Iranian people and said that he was "abusing the legacy" of Neda.
Makan contacted Masih Alinejad to discuss the original article about him. Alinejad has updated her editorial to include their conversation.
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Journalist Masih Alinejad, formerly of Etemade Melli daily and now the lead editorial writer for Rah-e-Sabz has published a denunciation of Caspian Makan. Makan is the man who has commonly been identified as the "fiancé" of Neda Agha Soltan, whose death on 20 June by a Basij gunshot has become a symbol of Iran's post-election conflict.
We make no comment on Alinejad's assertions but post them, translated by an EA correpondent, in the knowledge that Makan, who has just met the Israeli President Shimon Peres, is being mis-identified by some observers as "a leader of Iran's opposition":
How many times should Neda Agha Soltan die?
The Latest from Iran (24 March): Regime Confidence, Regime Fear?
In Iran is it only the government that kills the protestors?
Besides those who are sitting on the chair of power, is there any one else who might be able to kill young Iranians? Who else, besides the autocratic rules of Iran is willing or able to break the heart of a mother over and over again? Does death only mean that you should fall over the cobblestones of a street, with blood spilling out of your mouth, and a mother who would never see her beautiful daughter again?
If the answer is yes, how come Neda is being shot at every day?
This time round, Neda Agha Soltan is being killed through an imposter who introduces himself as Neda’s fiancé. Caspian Makan is shooting at Neda’s forehead, just because for a very short time Neda was sentimentally attached to this man. She did, however, separate from him very soon after the beginning of their relationship.
A man named AliReza (Caspian) Makan travels around the world under the name of Neda’s fiancé and defines himself as a representative of the people of Iran. In this capacity, he met with the president of Israel, Shimon Peres. Mr. Makan is free to do whatever he wants but it is a disaster that everyone knows him in conjunction with Neda, a girl whose family has no agenda in Iran. On the other hand, he claims to represent the dead girl and has become her "voice" throughout the world.
I wanted to publish this article a long time ago but I believed that Makan was very well aware that in the last days of Neda’s life he did not maintain a sentimental relationship with her. And I was under the belief that after she was gone, he would respect the privacy of a dead woman who cannot defend herself.
During the days when a British friend of mine was producing a documentary about Neda, I accessed a letter from her sister, but I thought I should not go public with the letter and insult Makan in this way. But today Makan is insulting the entire family of Neda along with an entire nation. I guess it is time for me to pull the curtain and let the world take a look at the reality behind the scenes.
Neda’s sister wrote in an email that “…Makan and Neda were separated, they were together for a very short time…. The picture of Neda with short dress was taken by him… Makan and Neda were not together anymore but after Neda was killed we were forced to witness Makan sending Neda’s pictures to the media…”
Makan is neither Neda’s fiancé nor a representative of people of Iran in Israel.
Throughout our life we meet many people, men and women. Makan was just a by-stander in Neda’s life, and Neda soon broke the relationship up. And now this question has constantly occupied my mind: why should anyone disrespect a person who once laid her head against his shoulder but the day after decided that those shoulders do not constitute solace for her any more? How can he buy himself fame while Neda’s picture was a keepsake when they were together? Is intruding upon her integrity not a good reason behind his real agenda to meet with Israel’s president? He does not even genuinely believe in green movement.
I never wanted to be disrespectful to Makan. But as a woman, if I didn’t stay with a man while I was alive, clearly I would never want him to climb on my corpse once I was dead. It hurts my soul as much as a policeman’s gunshot would hurt my body.
I am not Neda’s family’s spokesperson, but I know that these days Neda’s mother is enveloped in pain while she witnesses other people shooting her daughter in other ways. The mother of Neda is hurt. She is hurt from those who shot her daughter and herself once as well those who presently want to kill her soul.
If Makan had a motivation to meet with Israeli President, he should have done it on his own. Standing on the corpse of a girl who long before her departure has ended her relationship with him is the pinnacle of scorn. The innocent girl who once put her hand on Makan’s shoulder trusted him and never thought that tomorrow their once private pictures will roll around the world from media to media, so that he can accomplish his plans. Neda had never contemplated that this man could take over as the representative of the people of Iran.
Neda Agha Soltan is a clear example of the ailment in Iran, from the days that the political and social leaders decided to ignore honor and moral. Instead they began to raise individuals from all layers of society who have an enormous talent of killing their countrymen despite being unarmed.
Neda was an unassuming girl. She, like many other girls, became the victim of the protests against this regime. But this is not the end. There are still people who are targeting at our long-gone sister. All those boys who derided Neda’s death and those women who made a cloth doll of Neda with the slogan “Satan’s martyr” are still shooting her. They broke her tombstone and….
I write in the hope for a day when morality comes back to the Iranian society and its members correct themselves first instead of using each other’s corpses for reaching fame and fortune. Their bodies stink of blood and betrayal.
Reader Comments (57)
Dear Scott,
Thanks for translating it! And what a wonderful translation!
[...] Iran: The Controversy over Neda’s “Fiance” Iran: The Controversy over Neda’s “Fiance” | Enduring America [...]
Mr Zand,
Thank you for kind words. I'll pass them to the correspondent who did the hard work on this.
S.
I was wondering when Caspian Makan was going to generate some blowback. He's been carrying on a bit like Makhmalbaf.
With all due respect, Catherine
I am not sure that comparison is justified. Makhmalbaf's movie BOYCOTT in early 80s showed me his early years' thoughts. His activities as a propagandist for the regime early on also is well documented. But I think he has tremendously changed! In fact, he is a great case study on how people can transform so drastically in thought and practice.
He graciously attended our second meeting here in DC of an effort to help Iranians in Turkey, and has offered to help with the editing of the documentary that is planned to be made when a group of dedicated Iranian-American lawyers from http://www.omidadvocates.org/ visit Turkey soon to help stranded Iranians there.
In think the transfromation of Makhmalbaf is towards the better, and Makan's towards worse! Not a fair comparison.
While I see the tragedy in this situation, the larger question to me is how and why Makan was meeting w/Peres?
Scott any insight?
maybe the mullahs paid caspian alot of cash to stage a propaganda video with israeli president
Dear Catherine,
Dear MrZand,
comparing the case of Caspian to Makhmalbaf makes sense in way. It shows the case of to individuals who somehow entitle themselves "spokesman". No one in Iran - neither the Karroubi nor the Mousavi camp - commissioned Makhmalbaf to speak for them. And appearantly, there is no one in Neda Agha Soltans family that has asked Caspian to act the way he does.
Both are acting highly disrespectful.
But, in the case of Makhmalbaf, I do not want to neglect that his support helps to spread awareness in the world. At the same time, spreading messages that are not shared by relevant figures in Iran is certainly a big problem.
Thank you, dear EA team for providing this very well-written translation.
AM
@Bijan: Money could be a very good argument for this visit... Israel is very, very grateful for headlines like this one.
i didnt see Caspian Makan/peres video as propaganda,not sure why ppl getting "worked up" about it ~relax
Bijan,
Why would Makan meet with the Israelis? You would have to ask him but I think the underlying tone of the Rah-e-Sabz criticism is that Makan's primary interest is promoting Makan. Whether that is fair I leave for others to decide.
Why would the Israelis meet with Makan? That's easier. West Jerusalem portrays itself as the defender of all that is right and just inside Iran.
S.
Points well taken. Thank you for sharing. My brain is moving at a slow pace this morning! I could understand the concept of some level of official meeting him, but was a bit taken by the fact it was the level of Peres. However, in the context of PR as you and AsdollahMirza point out, Israel is in need of some brownie points in the international community and what a better way than meeting with an Iranian who has suffered so much at the hands of the regime...etc, etc, etc.
For Makan's reasons, to follow the articles underlying theme, seems pretty clear. Next stop..Oprah!
What exactly is the big deal with Caspian Makan blatantly exploiting his relationship with Neda? The Greenies have been doing it every single day since the poor woman's death. I guess the Greenies don't like the competition.
Masih Alinejad says that according to Neda’s sister, AliReza/Makan is taking advantage of an outdated friendship with Neda for personal gain. I’m a little curious why is Alinejad breaking the news now? Why did she not reveal these details earlier?
Whatever the real story is behind Alireza/Makan, I suppose the Israel visit will give good opportunity for IR to say, see, we told you it was all a foreign conspiracy. The regime should be quite happy with this.
BTW, if the Alireza/Makan case is as Alinejad says, it would not be the first time that unscrupulous people have taken advantage of the political situation and other people’s pain in Iran, while many of the real victims were in serious trouble in Iran. There were stories of people seeking (and being granted) asylum in the West because they claimed that they were involved in the 18 Tir (1999) student protests, when in fact they were not involved in it at all (were not even students it was claimed), but were using those events as an excuse to move to abroad. I personally came across one person who claimed they were involved in the 18 Tir protests, but incredibly did not know during which Iranian year it was supposed to have taken place.
Any such action does great injustice to the real victims of dictatorships like IR.
Scott,
An "easier" answer indeed.
Could it be that President Peres is just as hopeful to see the Iranian people free from oppression as the rest of us?
I agree Yonatan. Politicians are quite well-known for their benevolence, honesty and kindheartedness. I'm sure President Peres has the best interests of the Iranian people at heart, as does President Ahmadinejad.
Yonatan,
I should clarify: I hope that President Peres, as a person observing the Iranian system, wants the best for the Iranian people. I fear that President Peres, as a politician and a representative of the Netanyahu Government, may put his perception of Israel's national interests foremost. I am cautious that the two motives do not necessarily coincide in approach or outcome.
S.
Scott,
With the exception of the President's representation of the government (the Israeli Presidency is mostly a symbolic post), I agree. Yet one can just as easily reduce every act and speech by "politicians" into realpolitik cynicism (as Pedestrian has done), or one can look at it as a possible mix of the above and genuine ideology. Need I point out President Peres' history as a dove in the Labour party?
Pedestrian,
I believe President Ahmedinejad believes he's doing his best for the Iranian people, but his ideas of what's best, or ideals, are different than ours.
@greeny: she laid out well her reasons for not publishing this sensitive information earlier. she explains quite clearly that she thought he would evaporate from public view, and the little bit of information would fade in comparison to the legacy of a martyr. as he continues to exploit whatever relationship he had with neda (whether for personal gain or political points with the regime.. or any other useless reason), she feels pushed to do what she had hoped to avoid.
i do not have an opinion as to the details of this claim. how could any of us except for the family and friends of neda soltan? if ms. alinejad waited out of respect for neda soltan and her family, it seems she is now speaking out as further respect to the family. makes perfect sense to me.
BBC Persian says Neda’s mother says Makan does not represent them. She’s also criticized his visit to Israel.
BBC says Neda’s sister, Hoda, has told them that she has not said that Neda’s relationship with Makan was over. She said she had sent an email to a director, saying that Neda and Makan were not officially engaged. They had wet 2 months earlier, and discussed getting engaged when she was murdered.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2010/03/100324_makan_neda_israel.shtml
Who knows the truth of this?? Perhaps there is some amount of truth in it - but not the whole truth?? Who knows the whole truth of anything in Iran???
The fact remains--- a beautiful young woman was slaughtered in public in the streets of Tehran!!! Shot dead.
Who did it?? Perhaps it was the Israelis?? Perhaps it was IRGC??
In the same way that people put their beliefs in a religious faith without any tangible evidence - I put my belief in the thought that it was carried out by somebody working for the Iranian Regime. IRGC?? Basiji?? Who knows!
But Neda died - and she will not rest yet until changes are made in Iran
Barry
I think Masih Alinejad did the right thing not revealing the contents of the email letter from Neda's sister. Indeed it seems the only sensible thing to do, and I am sure she would do the same again.
I hope if anyone else is holding onto sensitive information, they are following this example, and keeping private matters private, but perhaps it would be wise to also consider issuing a warning to anyone whose actions might force them to reveal those details.
I think you should update your post Scott to include the recent reaction from Neda's mother (posted above in the bbc link) as well as Caspian Makan's responce to Alinejad (she updated her blog post to include her conversation with him http://masihalinejad.com/?p=1453 )
caspian makan went to a state which ahmadinejad wants to wipe off the map - and many of the so-called enemies of ahmadinejad in the west are fuming. what is so problematic? isn't it strange to demonize a person just because he is counteracting against the demonization of israel by the iranian regime?
I see many complaints about the Perez visit. But might this visit do just a little bit to change the way people in Israel think about Iran. Would they be just a little bit less inclined to attack those nuclear sites? Also: if Perez wanted to talk with Makan, should we conclude that the Israeli government is still planning for such an attack, or that they are willing to try out other things? I think this chat might be a little boost for the doves in Israel.
Am I being naive here? Maybe. Has Makan been naive, inexperienced in politics? Quite probably, but that is no surprise: he is no politician. Might he have had other motives than purely his own fame? I think that could well have been.