12.21.08
Shoes to be auctioned after almost hitting Bush
Says size 10s more valuable than everything he owns
Saudi man bids millions for shoes thrown at Bush
A Saudi man offered to pay $10 million for the pair of shoes that an Iraqi journalist lunged at U.S. President George W. Bush, saying he considers the size 10s a “medal of freedom.”
Retired school teacher Mohamed Makhafa, 60, said he thought Muntazer al-Zaidi’s shoes, which almost hit Bush during a press conference in Baghdad, were more valuable than everything he owns.
“It is more precious than all my property. I will bequeath it to my children and display it in a museum and call it the Medal of Freedom,” Makhafa told AlArabiya.net.
Makhafa said the combined value of the land and property he owns exceeds the price he is offering for Zaidi’s shoes, adding if the journalist’s lawyer manages to reclaim the infamous pair he will buy them.
Arab pride
Makhafa said he does not look at it from a commercial perspective and said his offer was the start of an auction.
“This is a partial salvation for the Arab pride that has been violated by the current American administration and its occupation of Arab and Muslim countries and it shedding of innocent blood,” Makhafa said.
The 60-year-old stressed that he does not hold a grudge against the U.S. and said he respects its people, but hates its foreign policies that have humiliated Arabs and Muslims.
Makhafa announced his offer on the internet and said tribesmen and public figures in the Arab world had expressed their support and many showed interest in taking part in the auction.
Makhafa calls himself an activist and has been involved in various social issues in his community. In an unprecedented initiative, he sued the Ministry of Transportation for a road accident that claimed the lives of 28 people. He also took part in exposing swindlers who cheated some local shareholders out of their money.
(Translated from the Arabic by Sonia Farid.)
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/12/16/62132.html
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Safiyyah said,
December 25, 2008 at 12:44 am
Salaams:
Just think how many people would better benefit from that $10 million!
Shhh.... said,
December 27, 2008 at 12:13 am
wa alaikum as salaam wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatu, sister Safiyyah I feel the same exact way, sometimes I feel great disgust when it comes to SOME of sisters and brothers in this deen. May Allah forgive and guide us all…. AMEEN!