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IFJ Backs Calls for Release
of Journalist in Shoes Protest
The International Federation of Journalists 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 120 countries
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