IRAN: Photograph reportedly showing Neda Agha-Soltan’s grave surfaces on Twitpic

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This photograph purporting to show the grave of Neda Agha-Soltan surfaced today on Twitpic.

Amateur video footage of the 26-year-old woman bleeding on the street in Tehran has turned “Neda” into an international symbol of the protests against the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a June 12 poll marred by allegations of rampant fraud. She was shot dead Saturday near the scene of clashes between pro-government militias and demonstrators.

The authenticity of the picture, which is captioned: “NEDA sleep here,” could not be independently verified. But Neda’s name appears to be written on the black placard affixed to the tomb stone.

Supporters of the protests have been leaving tributes beneath the picture and relaying the link.

“RIP Neda, your voice will never die,” reads one post. Another says, “She already is a martyr and will be remember as someone who gave her life for freedom.”

A number of people on Twitter are also passing along a plot number said to be where Neda was buried Sunday at Tehran’s Beshesht Zahra cemetery, calling for flowers to be left at the site. But at least one Tweet warned that this could get people arrested.

Friends and family share their memories of share the memories of Agha-Soltan with The Times in a report today and describe the circumstances of her death. The BBC Persian TV interviews the woman’s fiance, Caspian Makan.

-- Alexandra Zavis in Los Angeles