"Our Ramin is not dead"

He was only 26 years old--a year younger than my oldest daughter.

Take time to read his story in the Wall Street Journal, written by Farnaz Fassihi:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126118381849697953.html

Born in 1983 in Tabriz, Iran, to a schoolteacher and a merchant in a traditional bazaar.

Named for a legendary hero who fights against unjust rulers.

Reading and writing by age 3.

Entering a school for gifted and talented children at age 11.

Winner of a national poetry contest at age 13.

Starting at Tabriz Medical University at 18 in 2001.

Graduating at the top of his class as a doctor in 2008.

Delivering the valedictory address and quoting a poem:

The person whose heart is filled with love will never die.
Our perseverance is recorded in the book of time.

Assigned to a clinic in Tehran responsible for a rundown detention center (work that would count as military service).

Tending the 140 students detained there on July 9 after a large demonstration protesting the rigged election in June--students raped and beaten in the prison.

Asked to sign death certificates saying that three of them had died of meningitis.

Recording the true cause: "Physical stress, multiple blows to the head and chest, severe injuries."

Ordered to revise the cause of death to "Meningitis."

Testifying to the parliamentary committee assigned to investigate.

Being arrested, warned, and threatened.

Released on bail, making plans to study abroad in April, 2010, when his military service ended.

Telling his parents he feared for his life because he refused to cover up the murders.

Going to Iran's Parliament to ask for help.

Poisoned by a meal at his clinic.

Honored by hundreds at the memorial service on the fortieth day after his death.

Revered alongside Neda Agha Soltan as another martyr, courageously standing up for truth.

The crowds shout:
Our Neda is not dead.
Our Ramin is not dead.
It's the Supreme Leader who is dead.

Postscript:
The Iranian government has admitted the violent deaths of three students.
The committee that covered up the cause of Ramin's death is being forced to look into his murder and that of others.
Huge demonstrations took place today at the funeral of elderly Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who had been denouncing the violence at Kahrizak prison as well as the fraudulent election last June.

See also these reports:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126129141238099009.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/world/middleeast/20iran.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/world/middleeast/22cleric.html?_r=1&ref=world