Iraqi News Agency, Translated By Ayham Hamada
17 December 2008
Edited by Christie Chu
Mamdouh Al-Laithi, Chief of the Egyptian Cinematographic Syndicate, emphasized that the syndicate supports the Iraqi journalist Muntathar al-Zaidi, who has been arrested on the charge of throwing his shoes at U.S. President George Bush during his recent visit to Baghdad.
Al-Laithi told Al Masri newspaper: "On behalf of the photographers' section and the Cinematographic Syndicate, I demand the release of Al Baghdadiya journalist Muntathar al-Zaidi and I hold the Iraqi government responsible if his life was in danger during his arrest."
He added, "This journalist expressed the general fury of the people towards Bush's arrogant politics and the occupation of Iraq for unrealistic reasons, which led Iraq to face economical, political and social disasters throughout the years of the U.S. Army's occupation of Iraq."
Al-Laithi also declared that "Bush deserves to be hit with the shoes of all Iraqi people because he has committed unforgivable sins against them. We have issued a statement as the first step to put pressure on the Iraqi government to release Muntathar al-Zaidi, and we will do whatever we can to show our feelings to the Iraqi government by collaborating with other Arab cinematographic syndicates. We will not abandon him; we are willing to do whatever is needed."
The Cinematographic Syndicate statement declared that Muntathar al-Zaidi's action was a response to Bush's actions in Iraq and his biased support of Israel against the Arab nation.
ORIGINAL VERSION:
http://www.iraq-ina.com/showthis.php?type=&tnid=34148