One Journalist Imprisoned Another A Hero

Posted on 14 September 2009 by Stenberg-Tendys W.L. in Uncategorized

In Iran journalist Fariba Pajouh has been in solitary confinement for three weeks, in Tehran’s Evin Prison. Pajouh had been writing her personal views on her blog ‘Beyond The Rain’.

Pajouh’s father said his daughter was arrested at her family’s home by agents from Iran’s intelligence ministry on the first day of Ramadan. It is believed Pajouh is under heavy pressure to confess to indecent conduct, a charge commonly made against female detainees. Opposition protesters are expected to take to the streets on the one day of the year set aside in Iran for public protests against Israel.

In Afghanistan, journalist, Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, 24 has been pardoned and released from jail.

Kambakhsh was arrested in 2007 and sentenced to die for downloading from the Internet, an analysis of what the Koran says about women. That sentence was changed to 20 years imprisonment by an appeals court in October 2008. The sentence was upheld again in a further appeal in March. Now Kambakhsh has been granted a pardon by President Hamid Karzai.

: Statue To Shoe Thrower

In Iraq, the journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi, who threw his size 10 shoe at George Bush, during his last visit to Iraq, shouted “This is your farewell kiss you dog. This is for the widows and orphans of Iraq.” Zaidi had braced himself expecting to receive an American bullet and was not afraid to die. He always believed he would be killed either by al-Qaeda or the Americans.

After 9 months in prison, Iraq is preparing a hero’s welcome home for Zaidi, in spite of the Iraq government having been embarrassed by the incident. Political pressure was applied to remove a large statue of the shoe and Zaidi was tortured while in an Iraqi jail, according to his brother.

Zaidi was sentenced to three years in prison. This was cut to one year on appeal because he had no criminal record and released three months early because of good behaviour.

A new four-bedroom house has been built by his former boss, Abdul-Hamid al-Sayah, manager of the Cairo-based station. A new car awaits Zaidi, plus pledges of harems, money and health care are pouring into his ex-employers and the al-Baghdadia television channel. Zaidi has declined offers of a political career.

“The Emir of Qatar promised a golden horse, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi (of Libya) said he would award him Libya’s highest honour,” reported Dargham, Zaidi’s brother.

Editor Abdul Hamid al-Saij said, “One Iraqi who lives in Morocco called to offer to send his daughter to be Zaidi’s wife.” Another called from Saudi Arabia offering $10 million for his shoes. Calls pour in from Palestine asking to marry the hero.

Zaidi alleges he was tortured by government officials. He has lost teeth, has two broken ribs and a broken foot has not healed. Zaidi’s brother said, “He will stay in Iraq, but first he has to leave the country to get his health fixed.”

Zaidi is planning to open an orphanage when he leaves prison, and interested in working in a humanitarian organization, or becoming an activist for women’s and orphan’s rights.

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