Witnessing Neda's death
Updated on 30 July 2009
A doctor tells Channel 4 News how student Neda Soltan, who became an icon of the Iranian opposition movement, was shot dead during last month's demonstrations. Lindsey Hilsum reports.
After being shot dead, Neda Soltan has become the international symbol of discontent with Iran's leadership.
The 26-year-old's death was broadcast around the world - a victim of the brutal crackdown after the disputed presidential elections.
Today, the Iranian police reportedly beat an opposition politician who'd turned up with other mourners at her graveside - forcing another opposition leader to leave the cemetery. They then fired tear gas and beat protesters in Tehran.
Forty days after her death Channel 4 News has talked to the doctor who tried to treat Neda Soltan after she was shot.
He told our international editor Lindsey Hilsum what he saw - her report contains some images viewers may find distressing.
I heard him shout 'I didn't want to kill her'
D r Hejazi, who is now in the UK, said he was standing near Neda when he heard a shot and saw her fall to the ground.
"I tried to stop the bleeding by putting pressure on the wound, but it seems the bullet had hit the aorta and the lung, so her body was draining of blood in less than a minute and she couldn't survive," he said.
The crowd of protestors then seized a man in civilian clothes who they believed had shot Neda.
Dr Hejazi says he did not see the shooting but while the crowd was grappling with the man, but claims he heard him shout "I didn't want to kill her!"
The Iranian authorities said the bullet that killed her was not a type used by Iranian security forces and allege that the incident was deliberately staged to blacken their image.
