Iraq rally for Bush shoe attacker
Bush shoe-ing worst Arab insult
Thousands of Iraqis have demanded the release of a local TV reporter who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush at a Baghdad news conference.
Crowds gathered in Baghdad's Sadr City district, calling for "hero" Muntadar al-Zaidi to be freed from custody.
Officials at the Iraqi-owned TV station, al-Baghdadiya, called for the release of their journalist, saying he was exercising freedom of expression.
Iraqi officials have described the incident as shameful.
A statement released by the government said Mr Zaidi's actions, which also included him shouting insults at President Bush, "harmed the reputation of Iraqi journalists and Iraqi journalism in general".
Correspondents say the protesters are supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - a leading critic of the US presence in Iraq. Smaller protests were reported in Basra and Najaf.
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President Bush ducks as the shoes are thrown
The Iraqi government has demanded an on-air apology from his employer.
An Iraqi official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the journalist was being interrogated to determine whether anybody paid him to throw his shoes at President Bush.
He was also being tested for alcohol and drugs, and his shoes were being held as evidence, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV channel said Mr Zaidi should be freed because he had been exercising freedom of expression - something which the Americans had promised to Iraqis on the ousting of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"Any measures against Muntadar will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime," the firm said in a statement.
The programming director for al-Baghdadiya, Muzhir al-Khafaji, described the journalist as a "proud Arab and an open-minded man".
He said he was afraid for Mr Zaidi's safety, adding that the reporter had been arrested by US officials twice before.
"We fear that our correspondents in Iraq will be arrested. We have 200 correspondents there," he added.
Do you feel this was an example of "free speech" or something more and illegal? WHy or why not?
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9 comments:
I think that this is
illigal because we can
say or do something
unless we hurt some
body. And because I think
that not body have to
hurt and other people
because of their beliefs.
by:Jonnathan Quito
This is not a free-speech because this person is a reperter and he is supposed to communicate news instead of taking any sides. He should not be sending agressive messages to the people. That's so disrespecful of the journalist. Throwing a shoe to a president feels more like something illegal, the excuse of the journalist by saying that this is free-speech I think is just like a revenge.
Daliz Rivas!!!
This is definitly not free speech. This journalist, whether he was paid to throw the shoe at President Bush or did it on his own will, it was still an illegal act. He probably either wanted some attention or just felt anger towards Bush and the U.S. This journalist should suffer the consequences and go to Jail for his insulting acts
Lisenny Rodriguez
This is definitly not free speech. This journalist, whether he was paid to throw the shoe at President Bush or did it on his own will, it was still an illegal act. He probably either wanted some attention or just felt anger towards Bush and the U.S. This journalist should suffer the consequences and go to Jail for his insulting acts
Lisenny Rodriguez
This is definitly not free speech. This journalist, whether he was paid to throw the shoe at President Bush or did it on his own will, it was still an illegal act. He probably either wanted some attention or just felt anger towards Bush and the U.S. This journalist should suffer the consequences and go to Jail for his insulting acts
Lisenny Rodriguez
This is definitly not free speech. This journalist, whether he was paid to throw the shoe at President Bush or did it on his own will, it was still an illegal act. He probably either wanted some attention or just felt anger towards Bush and the U.S. This journalist should suffer the consequences and go to Jail for his insulting acts
Lisenny Rodriguez
i think that someone throwing an object to someone is illegal. Even though i believe bush deserved it.Free speech is more of someone talking about what they feel is right or wrong.Meaning to hurt someone is not free speech.If it was everyone would just throw things to people they dont like and get away with it.
arielle lopez
I don't believe that this is a free speech.Free speech is when someone talk about a subject but doesnt show an act.i believe that Bush deserve it, but the journalist did a illegal act.this journalist must be punishes for what he did.
jAmila LofTon
i think it is free speech but i also think the reporter is wrong for choosing sides. the job of the reporter is to tell facts and leave it up to the public to decide whats right and whats wrong. but free speech is when some one express how they feel and thats all the reporter was doing. i just feel that the reporter was out of line.
Ramell Pearson
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