16 December 2008
IFJ Backs Calls for Release of Journalist in Shoes Protest
The International Federation of Journalists ( IFJ) says the reporter who threw shoes at United States President George Bush over America's role in Iraq should be set free. His protest, says the IFJ, reflected deep anger at the treatment of Iraqi civilians during the US occupation over the past four years of which journalists have been major victims.
Muntadar al-Zeidi, the correspondent for Iraqi-owned Al-Baghdadiya television, threw shoes at US president George Bush in Baghdad. The action was a symbolic gesture of distaste at US policy -- showing the soles of your shoes is regarded as a form of disrespect in Iraq.
"This journalist was expressing his own deeply-felt views and we cannot condone his actions," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary, "but after years of intimidation, mistreatment and unsolved killings at the hands of US soldiers, it is no surprise that there is anger and resentment among journalists."
It is no coincidence says the IFJ that the protest comes only days after the United States refused to release a detained journalist, despite an Iraqi court order that he should be set free. "When the US appears to defy the rule of law in Iraq, it is no surprise that journalists will look to other ways to make their protest over injustice," said White.
The IFJ is warning that the journalist may be under threat while in detention given the record of mistreatment of journalists in custody by US forces. It is supporting its affiliate the Iraqi Union of Journalists (IUJ) which has called for Muntadar al-Zeidi to be released and for his safety to be guaranteed. The IFJ is also calling on the government to make good on its commitment to conduct a full investigation into the deaths of Iraqi journalists since the start of the US occupation. The IUJ counts 284 journalists killed in Iraq since April 2003.
For further information contact the IFJ: +32 478 258 669
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in more than 123 countries
Comments :
Susan Elan
17 December 2008 at 05:25
Muntadar al-Zeidi, the correspondent for Iraqi-owned Al-Baghdadiya television, spoke for me too when he threw shoes at US president George Bush in Baghdad. The action was a symbolic gesture of distaste at US policy -- showing the soles of your shoes is regarded as a form of disrespect in Iraq. It was a mild form of protest when we look at the horror Bush has wrought on the Iraqi people on so many Americans too.
o'brien
18 December 2008 at 13:38
Has there been any confirmation that he has been subjected to abuse while in custody? Can anyone confirm this?
None of your business
18 December 2008 at 23:52
Gee guys, I thought I was reading a report from Al-Qaida when I logged on-You need to work on your anti-american bias! I wonder if the supposed mistreatment of these supposed journalists has anything to do with western journo's being too afraid to leave their comfy hotels and hiring Iraqi stringers to do their dirty work for them. Do these journo's even know who their hiring? Al-Qaida sympathizers? Sunni extremists? Al-Sadr's men?
lylia
20 December 2008 at 13:25
bonjour je tiens d'abord à vous féliciter pour la tache noble que vous défendez qui est la lliberté de la presse qui est devenu un crime de nos jours et je tiens également à vous remercier pour votre soutien au journaliste irakien muntadar al zaidi,seulement je voudrai ajouter (sachant que je ne suis pas journaliste)que tout le monde doit agir efficacement non avec des paroles seulement , et vite pour le libérer avant qu' il ne soit tué vu la maltraitance et la torture qu' il est entrain de subir de la part du lache gouvernement irakien. meilleures salutations
Philippe Leruth
24 December 2008 at 11:22
I support indeed the demand for our Iraqian colleague to be released, because when journalists are imprisoned, democracy is always in danger. Nevertheless, while condemning the harassment of journalists exerced by American troops in Iraq, I can't approve the way our Iraqian collague acted during President George W Bush's press conference. This had nothing to do with a professional attitude and if I understand the citizen's reaction, I think it was misplaced at that time and at that place.
Philippe Leruth
24 December 2008 at 11:32
Je soutiens bien volontiers l'appel à la libération de notre confrère iraqien, dans la mesure où la démocratie est en danger à chaque fois que des journalistes sont emprisonnés. Si je peux comprendre que les entraves mises par les troupes américaines au travail des journalistes en Irak sont à l'origine de l'incident, je ne peux toutefois cautionner l'attitude de ce confrère lors de la conférence de presse tenue à Bagdad par le président George W. Bush, parce que cette attitude n'était en rien professionnelle. La réaction citoyenne était sans nul doute parfaitement compréhensible, mais, pour symbolique et inoffensive qu'elle ait été, elle ne s'est pas déroulée au bon moment et au bon endroit.
Mortimer
20 January 2009 at 04:11
Derek Mortimer 'None of your business' (Dec 16 2008) I'm not surprised if Western journalists are afraid to leave their hotels, with an IUJ count of 284 journalists killed in Iraq since April 2003 – after all, the US is running the show, and wherever it rules their is death and mayhem. This is not expressing anti-Americanism, it is expressing a loathing of the Bush-led leadership of the US. And please, don't slander the journalists, whether from the East or the West, who are brave enough to cover the terrible conflict.
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