2 journalistic associations call to free al-Zaydi

Iraq-Associations BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Two heads of Iraqi associations which defend Iraqi journalists’ rights on Monday demanded to free Muntadher al-Zaydi, the correspondent for al-Boghdadiya satellite channel, who was detained after hurling his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush. Ibrahim al-Siraji, the chairman of the Iraqi Association to Protect Journalists, called on the government to released al-Siraji and guarantee his legal rights, urging it not to deal with the case from a political point of view. President Bush quickly ducked when a pair of shoes were hurled at him on Sunday. “This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog,” Zaydi shouted in Arabic as he threw his shoe at Bush during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The shoe narrowly missed the president’s head. The man, a correspondent for Al-Boghdadiya television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, then pulled off his other shoe and chucked it, yelling, “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.” Bush ducked again as al-Maliki put out his arm to block the shoe. 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. Zaydi is considered one of the journalists outspokenly criticizing the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq. He had written several reports opposing the U.S. military presence in the country. The satellite channel al-Boghdadiya urged the Iraqi authorities to “immediately” release its correspondent Muntadher al-Zaydi. “Our association prepared a team of lawyers to defend Zaydi in case he tried,” al-Siraji said. Residents of Baghdad’s eastern Sadr City on Monday took to the streets calling for the release of Muntadher al-Zaydi. The demonstrators headed towards the headquarters of the Iraqi press syndicate in Baghdad’s northern area of al-Waziriya. For his part, the chairman of the association to defend press freedom, Udai Hatem, saud that his association has reservations on al-Zaydi’s act, however, he continue, the reaction was unacceptable. “They beat him in front of cameras. They should took him away from the hall without beating or insulting him,” he added. Meanwhile, Fadel Khudier Abbas, a journalist in the state-run al-Iraqia, said “i do not agree with al-Zaydi in his way of expressing his opinion. Iraqis have better and more civilized was to express their dismay over any case.” He voiced belief that the government will be more responsible towards al-Zaydi and will respect the freedom of expression. SH (I)/SR 1