John McCain stood before his peers to discuss the events in Tehran and the death of a young Iranian woman named “Neda.”

Neda Soltan was shot and killed during a protest in the streets of Tehran. Viral videos of her bloody death have spread all over the internet.

Neda Soltan after she was gunned down on a public street.

Her name has become the newest rally cry for the protesters. In the video, John McCain uses Neda’s death as a reason for the United States to take a firmer stance against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

But before we start getting wrapped up in the emotion of the situation, what about the facts?

Neda’s fiance, Caspian Makan, was interviewed by BBC Persia and he denied she was an opposition supporter. He claims Neda was just a bystander, not a protester.

Makan said Neda’s car was stuck in traffic (because of the opposition protests) and the heat got to her. She decided to get out of the car to get some air and cool down. He said that’s when Neda was shot and killed. Witnesses told Makan that paramilitary men dressed as civilians were responsible for her death.

The story is tragic and the video leaves no doubt that she was brutally gunned down. In Makan’s version of the events, Neda was not a martyr as  John McCain said. According to Makan, Neda was just an innocent civilian victim who tried to stay out of political clashes but instead has become the center of one.

It is unclear whether Makan is spreading this story because he wants to protect his remaining loved ones. It has been widely reported that Iranian officials are using violence and intimidation to suppress the opposition. I can only imagine that it would only mean trouble for Neda’s surviving family members and friends if they confirm her role in the protests.

But, it is a fact that Neda was killed ruthlessly.

I watched the video. Her death is ugly and reminds me of the worst in humanity. During this post, the fact that I refer to her as “Neda” and not as “Soltan,” as journalism principles would have me do, proves I have been affected by her tragedy. What happened to Neda made me realize the true dangers the opposition faces.

Still, I believe that John McCain, although right for bringing what is happening Iran to attention, is using propaganda by calling Neda a martyr on the Senate floor. We do not have officially that was the case.

The death of civilians at the hands of their government SHOULD make every American angry, however.

I do believe that Obama’s Administration needs to take a firmer stance against the violence but I don’t agree we need to adopt the Iranian people’s symbols and propaganda, either. We need to remain level-headed and logical during an illogical time. It’s almost impossible, I know, but we need to remember that it was our impulsiveness which led to the Iraq quagmire.

I applaud John McCain for calling for action but I think he needs to stick to the facts.

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UPDATE:

I found video of Neda’s fiance telling his story to Al-Jazeera English. He is critical of the government and suspects the are the ones guilty for her death. I’m sure he’s telling the truth about her just being a civilian now because he publicly critiques those who can do him and his family further harm.