Iraqi shoe thrower wins hearts in Iran

deepak pace

DJ_DEE
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush has won some hearts in neighboring Iran, where one cleric dubbed the act "the shoe intifada (rebellion)."

Palestinian journalists protest Thursday in support of shoe-throwing Muntadhar al-Zaidi.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati -- leading Friday prayers in Tehran -- hailed journalist Muntadhar 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 U.S. president."
Speaking to worshipers at Tehran University, Jannati labeled the shoes "more valuable than crowns, medals and signs" and believes they should be place in an Iraqi museum.
The government of Iran and the United States have been bitter antagonists for decades.
Iran has opposed the U.S. presence and policies in Iraq and the United States has accused Iran of backing militants in Iraq.
Jannati said the U.S. 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-U.S. demonstrations in Iran and Iraq.
 
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