- Title: VARIOUS: Arab world reacts to release of Iraqi shoe thrower Muntazer al-Zaidi
- Date: 16th September 2009
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (SEPTEMBER 14, 2009) (REUTERS) MAN ON DONKEY CART (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED MAN ON DONKEY CART IN GAZA CITY SAYING: "I say to him: thank God for your health and may God give you a long life and for you to remain in Iraq and to beat every bad leader the way you did." MAN ON DONKEY CART RIDING AWAY VIEW OF GAZA CITY STREETS
- Embargoed: 1st October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA47CIRQ1V70375ESYZCEEFCHAS
- Story Text: The Arab world reacted mostly with enthusiasm of Tuesday (September 15) to the release from prison of an Iraqi reporter who shot to world-wide fame when he hurled his shoes at then U.S. President George W. Bush during a news conference last December.
Muntazer al-Zaidi, whose outburst chimed with the feelings of many Iraqis towards the former U.S. leader, was met outside the Baghdad jail by parliamentarians and many other jubilant supporters.
Zaidi was sentenced to three years in jail for assaulting a head of state, but his sentence was later reduced to one year.
Al-Baghdadiya television showed footage of Zaidi arriving at its station surrounded by guards. He was wrapped in an Iraqi flag and wore black sunglasses. On arrival, the staff at his TV station slaughtered at least three sheep in his honour.
Relatives, supporters and Iraqi lawmakers crowded into the headquarters of al-Baghdadyia station to make a hero's welcome for Zaidi.
"There were routine procedures since yesterday and the documents regarding Muntazer's release have not been signed until 11:00 a.m., therefore, we felt worry but thank God Muntazer was released, he is in good health, there were no difficulties except some troubles made by high-ranking officers, but we could overcome problems, we received Muntazer and he is in good health," Zainb al Kinani, an Iraqi lawmaker, told Reuters.
Hazim al-Arajee, an Iraqi Shiite cleric, said the gesture made by Zaidi represented the suffering of Iraqis.
"The hero journalist who hurled his shoes at the leader of evil Bush before nine months, represented by his gesture the suffering of Iraqi people, the suffering of widows and orphans and the suffering of occupation, today is a great day for the Iraqi journalism, we congratulate them on this day," he said.
Even many Iraqis who backed the war to remove Saddam Hussein quickly soured at U.S. actions following his fall, like the refusal to intervene to stop looting, the decision to formally occupy Iraq with Paul Bremer as viceroy, instead of handing power back to Iraqis, and the sexual humiliation of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
In Cairo, opinions were divided over Zaidi's release.
"Of course opinions were changed, regardless of whether he is a hero or not or whether what he did was wrong or not. But all that I know is that he did something that the Arab leaders were unable to do. On the contrary, this was a catharsis for the anger of millions of Arabs. Regardless of the way he did it, as a journalist at least he did something," said Waleed.
But while the infamous Iraqi reporter is considered a hero by some, one woman said that he chose the wrong way to express his opinion.
"As soon as I found out about this situation I thought it was completely wrong, because regardless he is a President, regardless of what he did, regardless of our opposition to his behaviour, he is a President who has a certain position, and even if he has done something wrong we cannot respond that way. So from the beginning I did not like what he did," said Nerveen.
Also in Cairo, Samir Abdul Latif said that Zaidi had made an important symbolic stand against former president Bush.
"Of course I consider him a hero, because he responded and gave the Iraqis their dignity back, and he showed that what Bush did was incorrect, the Iraqis felt oppressed so I consider him a hero. At the least he responded to this man who was acting recklessly towards an oppressed Arab people," he said.
But lawyer Nabil Sabry said that Egyptians would be offended if their own president was insulted and therefore they should not applaud Zaidi.
"No heroism cannot be expressed through rudeness, regardless of the fact that he is the President of a state, like Gamal Abdul Nasser or like Hosni Mubarak, he's the President of a state. I do not accept Hosni Mubarak being attacked in any place, so for example when he was attacked in Sudan we sympathized with him, and said that the person who attacked him should be sentenced to death, we said its assassination. But this was throwing his shoe which is the ultimate form of insult," he said.
In the Palestinian territories, Palestinians in the Hamas ruled Gaza and the the Fatah ruled West Bank agreed Muntazer is an international hero deserving a prosperous future.
Residents gathered around televisions in different stores on main city streets as they watched Zaidi's live televised news conference.
"We are happy of course he is a brave man, we hope all the Arab leaders will reward him, and we congratulate Iraq for this man, since he is a brave man and daring in his work," Yousef El Sheikh, said in Gaza City.
"I wish him all the best and congratulate this brave man who committed this heroic act in this past year and I congratulate him and congratulate the entire Iraqi population for his release on this day," Islam Abu Jiya, a young clothes shop owner where residents watched the release on television, told Reuters.
"I say to him thank God for your health and may God give you a long life and for you to remain in IRaq and to beat every bad leader the way you did," an old man riding a donkey cart in Gaza, said.
Many Palestinians view the American administration's policy towards peace making in the Middle East as biased and often complain that the Americans are financing Israel's occupation and providing it with high-tech weapons.
George W. Bush was particularly not popular as he was a staunch supporter of Israel and had waged a war against Iraq in 2003.
"All Arab leaders should have the same fate, the same fate as Bush," Abu Mohamad Khdor, a resident of the West Bank town of Hebron, said. "We are happy because this man has carried out a good action, he expressed his feelings. Also he is a journalist, a journalist who is well informed but is not happy with what he witnesses," Haj Mutala' Sharabati said.
Zaidi's actions were seen by many as an honourable and admirable action specially since Arab leaders usually do not stand up to Western leaders in general and American Presidents in particular.
"He broke the aura around the strongest country in the world. All the Arab leaders do not dare breath in the face of America and the American presidents and he hit him with a shoe," a young man from Hebron, Noor Sharabati said.
In Ramallah, people celebrated the decision to release him.
"A hero, he seems to have a strong personality to carry out an act like this and hit a president with his shoe, we can say nothing but my God give him the strength," Ahmad Fana said.
"Who is Bush as a leader, when a President of the United States is known for his injustice, his tyranny and murder of people and stealing the Iraqi goods, this is Bush. Who is Bush? this is why he has to beaten with the shoe and we tell Muntazer all the respect to you and for what you have done and history will remember with all honour the act you have committed," Abed ElKareem Romaneh, a resident of Ramallah added. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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