U.S. soldiers’ behavior forced Muntadher to throw his shoes at Bush - al-Zaydi’s family

[sabra]

Source: Voice of Iraq

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The family of Muntadher al-Zaydi said on Monday that the U.S. soldiers’ behavior forced him to throw his shoes at U.S. President George Bush, demanding to free him immediately.

“The family does not know anything about where is he being held until now or his fate and we are trying to know anything by all means,” Umm Hanaa, his sister, told Aswat al-Iraq over the phone.

“The U.S. forces’ brutal acts were the reason which pushed him to throw his shoes at Bush,” she added.

Muntadher al-Zaydi threw a pair of shoes at U.S. President George Bush during a joint press conference with the Iraqi premier.

President Bush quickly ducked when a pair of shoes was hurled at him Sunday.

Zaydi, a young man of no more than 30 years old, has worked for al-Boghdadiya since its establishment in the wake of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. He had been kidnapped two years ago by unidentified gunmen while stepping out of his home in al-Bab al-Sharqi area, central Baghdad. A week later he was found lying on the ground near auto selling stores in al-Nahda square, Baghdad, at a late night hour.

Read more: http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=104698

[Eric J in MN]

1. The govt doesn't disappear people in free countries.

The US occupation set an example of taking prisoners and not telling the families were they were being held, which the Iraqi govt is following.

[boomerbust]

2. They might want to check

That resort island known as Cuba.

[AlphaCentauri]

9. of course Guantanamo n/t

[uppityperson]

3. More on him in today's news, repercussions of shoe throwing insult...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gQ_q...

(clip)
It is not known where Zaidi is currently being held.

"Al-Baghdadia television demands that the Iraqi authorities immediately release their stringer Muntazer al-Zaidi, in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people," it said in a statement. "Any measures against Muntazer will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime."

Saddam Hussein's former lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said he was forming a team to defend Zaidi and that around 200 lawyers, including Americans, had offered their services for free.

"It was the least thing for an Iraqi to do to Bush, the tyrant criminal who has killed two million people in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Dulaimi.
(clip)
In Cairo, Muzhir al-Khafaji, programming director for the television channel, described Zaidi as a "proud Arab and an open-minded man," saying he had worked at Al-Baghdadia for three years. "We fear for his safety," he told AFP, adding that Zaidi had been arrested twice before by the Americans and that there were fears that more of the station's 200 correspondents in Iraqi would be arrested....(more)

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[uppityperson]

4. more on his kidnapping, beating, release...

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSRYA67238820...

An Iraqi television journalist was kidnapped on Friday after leaving his home in Baghdad, Iraq's Journalistic Freedoms Observatory said.

Muntazer al-Zaidi, a correspondent for al-Baghdadiya television station, disappeared after leaving his home in a busy area of central Baghdad, the non-governmental organization said in a statement.

Zaidi's family said they had called his mobile phone in the afternoon, and confirmed he had been abducted, the group said. But his family did not receive any specific demands for his release. Zaidi is 26-years-old, it added.

"The Journalistic Freedoms Observatory asks Zaidi's kidnappers once more for his swift release for humanitarian reasons," the group said in a statement....(more)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19159708.htm

Nov 19 (Reuters) - An Iraqi TV journalist who was kidnapped last week in a busy Baghdad neighbourhood said he was released unharmed before dawn on Monday.

Muntazer al-Zaidi, a correspondent for the independent al- Baghdadiya television station, said he spent more than two days blindfolded, barely eating and drinking, after armed men forced him into a car as he walked to work on Friday morning in the bustling Bab al-Sharji area of central Baghdad.

"My release is a miracle. I couldn't believe I was still alive," Zaidi, 28, told Reuters by telephone.

Zaidi said the kidnappers had beaten him until he lost consciousness. They used his necktie to blindfold him and bound his hands with his shoelaces...(more)

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[LiberalFighter]

5. Bush's democracy at its finest.

[jeff30997]

6. K&R

Free him now!

[1776Forever]

7. Muntazer used to say all the orphans whose father were killed are because of Bush

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=78530§ionid=35...

Iraqis: Release shoe hurling reporter
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:50:56 GMT

Iraqis stage a demonstration in Baghdad calling for the release of a journalist who was arrested for hurling his shoes at the US President.

The demonstrators held a rally in Sadr City and urged the government to release Muntazer al-Zaidi, who was charged with committing a 'barbaric act', the Voices of Iraq news agency reported on Monday.

Zaidi, a correspondent for al-Baghdadiya satellite channel, hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference, shouting "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog!"

The demonstrators headed towards the headquarters of the Iraqi press syndicate in Baghdad's northern neighborhood of al-Waziriya.

"I'm sure many Iraqis want to do what Muntazer did," Reuters quoted Zaidi's brother, Udai al-Zaidi as saying "Muntazer used to say all the orphans whose father were killed are because of Bush."

Al-Baghdadiya TV channel also demanded Zaidi's immediate release, "in accordance with the democratic era and the freedom of expression that Iraqis were promised by US authorities."

During his farewell visit to Baghdad, Bush signed an interim security agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to extend the presence of US troops in the war-ravaged country.

[The Stranger]

8. What about all of the "support the troops" stickers?

Is it anti-American not to fall in line?