London protesters call for shoe thrower to be freed

Protesters waving shoes outside the US Embassy in London today demanded the release of “courageous” Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi.

He remains in custody after hurling shoes towards US President George Bush at a press conference in Baghdad on Sunday.

A judge investigating the incident has said al-Zaidi had bruises on his face and around his eyes.

Media Workers Against The War delivered a letter to the US Embassy today, which read: “We as journalists believe that our colleague Muntadar al-Zaidi, who protested at President George Bush in Baghdad on Sunday 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 affect his immediate release from custody.”

Its signatures included Tony Benn, president, Stop The War Coalition, and MP Jeremy Corbyn.

The Metropolitan Police estimated that there were around 40 protestors. Most arrived holding shoes in support of al-Zaidi.

Media Workers Against The War chairman David Crouch, who handed the letter to an embassy security officer, told the crowd: “We know the Iraqi Government has a dreadful record on the way that they harass, the way that they persecute and sometimes torture and kill journalists.

“So it’s extremely important that we send our message today to the Ambassador Robert Tuttle and to George Bush that the occupying power has the responsibility for al-Zaidi’s safety and must free him immediately.

“He has stood up against the silence and the lies that we have been forced to take all too often in the British and international media.

“I’m a journalist myself. Our role is to give a voice to people who don’t have a voice and for that reason al-Zaidi might as well have thrown 27 million shoes at George Bush, because he was speaking for the vast overwhelming majority of the Iraqi population.

“There is no press freedom in Iraq. Anyone who tells you any different is lying.”

Mr Crouch, a news editor at a national newspaper, added: “If you are a journalist and you speak your mind in Iraq then you put your life on the line, and this is what al-Zaidi has done.”

Another protester, Sabah Jawad, Iraqi Democrats Against The Occupation, said: “This guy was courageous. He didn’t think about the consequences of his actions.

“He went there fully aware that this might be an implication for him and for his safety.

“His life is in threat but he represented the Iraqi people by this action. We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release.”