The Green Movement began after the disputed 2009 presidential election results declaring Ahmadinejad the winner. Millions of Iranians took to the streets with the slogan "Where is my vote?" Neda Agha-Soltan became the symbol of this movement.
Historical Context
On June 12, 2009, the presidential election was held between Ahmadinejad and Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Official results declared Ahmadinejad the winner with 63%, which many called fraudulent. From June 15, massive demonstrations began in Tehran and major cities. On June 20, Neda Agha-Soltan was shot dead by a Basij militiaman, and the video of her death went viral worldwide. Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have been under house arrest since 2011.
Fun Facts
Neda Agha-Soltan was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" by readers in 2009. The Green Movement was the first major Iranian movement to extensively use social media. The slogan "Death to the Dictator" became widespread for the first time during this movement.
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