Louise Nousratpour
Friday December 19, 2008
The Morning Star
PEACE protesters delivered a box of shoes to the US embassy in London on Friday to show support for Iraqi shoe-thrower Muntadhar al-Zeidi and demand his "immediate and unconditional" release.
The protesters waved their shoes in the air, chanting: "Free Muntadhar - jail Bush."
One banner read: "If the shoe fits, throw it." A box wrapped as a Christmas present and addressed to US President George Bush quickly brimmed over with old shoes donated by the protesters.
The event, organised by Media Workers Against the War, was part of an international wave of protests demanding the immediate release of Mr Zeidi, who was jailed last week after hurling his shoes at Mr Bush during a press conference in the Baghdad Green Zone.
The Iraqi journalist became an instant hero across the world when he threw his shoes at the US president, shouting: "This is for the widows and orphans of Iraq."
Mr Zeidi, who has not been seen since his arrest, has reportedly been subjected to brutal treatment and is suffering from a broken wrist, broken ribs and internal bleeding.
Media Workers Against the War chairman Dave Crouch warned that Mr Zeidi's life was in danger and that he faced up to seven years in jail "for doing what journalists do - speak up for those who do not have a voice."
He dismissed reports that Mr Zeidi had sent a letter to Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki pleading for clemency and forgiveness.
Before delivering a protest letter to the embassy, Mr Crouch told the crowd that Mr Zeidi's arrest "shows that there is no media freedom in Iraq and the Iraqi government has a dreadful record of harassing, detaining and torturing journalists."
The US Committee to Protect Journalists published a report on Thursday which ranked Iraq as the most dangerous place for journalists.
Protesters also heard passionate speeches from Iraqi journalists and activists residing in London.
Sabah Jawad of the British-based Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation described Mr Zeidi as "a brave man" and demanded his "immediate and unconditional" release.
"The BBC asked if I thought it was appropriate for a journalist to throw shoes at heads of states and I replied: 'Absolutely'," he said to loud cheers.
"Was it appropriate for George Bush to launch an illegal war, destroy my country and kill more than one million people?"
Mr Jawad added: "Mr Bush should not be allowed to retire happy and write silly books, but he should face war crime charges alongside Gordon Brown, who wrote the cheques for the war."
Iraqi journalist Nidhal Ail Shibib made an emotional speech, highlighting the death and destruction that has plagued her country for nearly six years.
She added her voice to calls for Mr Zeidi's release, saying: "He wasn't the one who killed innocent people, committed the crimes at Abu Ghraib jail in Baghdad or raped little girls.
"George Bush should be sitting in jail, not al-Zeidi, who only spoke on behalf of Iraqi people."
Mr Crouch delivered the box of shoes along with the protest letter, signed by prominent figures such as veteran socialist Tony Benn, Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn and Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German.
The letter read: "We believe that Muntadhar al-Zeidi is guilty of nothing but expressing Iraqis' legitimate and overwhelming opposition to the US-led occupation of their country.
"We call on you to guarantee his safe treatment and effect his immediate release."
A solidarity protest will take place outside the BBC, Oxford Road, Manchester at 1pm on Saturday.
