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Iranian cleric Jannati dubs Muntazer act 'shoe intifada'

Published: December 20, 2008

TEHRAN/LONDON (Agencies) â€" The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at President George W Bush has won some hearts in neighbouring Iran, where one cleric dubbed the act “the shoe intifada (rebellion).”
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati - leading Friday prayers in Tehran - hailed journalist Muntazear al-Zaidi’s now-famous fling last Sunday, when Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki were holding a news conference in Baghdad.
His remarks - reported by Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency - reflect the support many Middle East people have shown for al-Zaidi, an Iraqi correspondent for Egypt-based Al-Baghdadia TV.
“The shoe intifada in Iraq should not be overlooked easily,” he said. “Well done to the Iraqi journalist for throwing the shoes at the US President.”
Speaking to namazis at Tehran University, Jannati labelled the shoes “more valuable than crowns, medals and signs” and believes they should be place in an Iraqi museum.
Jannati said the US was trapped in a quagmire in Iraq and didn’t know what to do about it.
“The shoe hurling by the Iraqi journalist had many messages which the world received and the Iraqi people, too, held demonstrations afterwards. People should support the Iraqi journalist,” said Jannati, who believes shoes should be regular props in the anti-US demonstrations in Iran and Iraq.
In the Indian capital of New Delhi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister told reporters that the incident points to frustration in the elite levels of society with Bush’s policies.

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