http://musliminsuffer.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/free-muntather-al-zaidi-the-50000-signatures-campaign-for-muntather-al-zaidi/
For the Calendar of Saints: 14 December (2008): Muntather Al-Zaidi
Drawn from the Oakland Tribune, 15 December 2008, and from the blog of the very angry Sunni Iraqi exile, Layla Anwar :Oakland Trib: “On a whirlwind trip shrouded in secrecy and marred by dissent, President George W. Bush on Sunday [14 December 2008] hailed progress in the wars that define his presidency, and he got a size-10 reminder of his unpopularity when a man hurled two shoes at him during a news conference in Iraq.”
Layla Anwar: “Whilst Bush was pontificating from his ass, Muntather Al-Zaidi, a 28 years old journalist, a leftist, from the independent anti-occupation, anti-sectarian TV, Al-Baghdadia, stood up and threw not one shoe but TWO pair of shoes at Bush, calling him at the top of his voice YA KALB – “YOU DOG.”
Oakland Trib: “ ‘This is your farewell kiss, you dog!’ shouted the protester in Arabic, later identified as Muntadar Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt. ‘This is from the widows, the orphans, and those who were killed in Iraq.’ Bush ducked both shoes as they whizzed past his head….”
The shoes that flew from his hands actually were being thrown through him by most of the people on the planet earth!
Layla Anwar: “Let me tell you more about Muntather Al-Zaidi. Muntather was kidnapped, tortured and humiliated and when released he resumed his work as a journalist at the Baghdadia TV. He graduated from Baghdad University in Journalism and was active pre-2003 in the Iraqi Federation /Student Union and was/is known to be a vehement opposer to the dual occupation of my Beloved. One of his colleagues confirmed that Muntather came to the press conference late, and his other colleagues from the same TV station had preceded him way before. This other colleague also confirmed that they had to stand for hours for stringent security checks before being allowed to enter the press hall. Muntather as a dignified Iraqi, used the only weapon available to him - HIS SHOES. He threw the first one with such dexterity, Bush ducked and within seconds he threw the second one and aimed right above that bastard's head and landed smash into the American flag … Amidst the stupor and shouts, I could hear his screams while he was being kicked, his hair pulled, and his face scratched... We all watched it and Mom and I burst into tears, tears of happiness and tears of grief. Happiness because Muntather filled us with hope, hope that there are still brave heroes left in Iraq. Mom even called him the Salah El-Deen Al Ayubi /the new Saladin. A historical moment in the Iraqi tragedy indeed and during Bush's last visit ! … We were also filled with grief and recited the Fateeha, because we knew that Muntather Al-Zaidi signed his own death warrant. This guy is finished. Mom added that he will be tortured first, most probably with shoes before his execution. … I therefore urge all people of conscience, in particular Journalists without Borders, any syndicate or union of journalists anywhere in the world, to mobilize themselves for the release of Muntather before he gets executed.”
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