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| Iranian President |
Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- A 45-year-old textile employee who has been out of labor for a year threw his shoes Monday at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to protest not having received unemployment edges, an Iranian web site reported.
He missed, putting a banner behind the president instead, said Ghased News, an unofficial web site. CNN has not been ready to ensure the report independently.
Ghased News said the incident occurred within the northern town of Sari throughout a memorial ceremony for a former oil minister who died last year.
Attendees beat the person till security forces intervened, the positioning reported. the person had been fired from his job at a weaving factory and said he had not received unemployment edges for a year, it said.
Ghased News identified the person as Rashid S., a resident of Sari who was once jailed for throwing eggs and tomatoes at former President Mohammad Khatami.
The audience apologized to Ahmadinejad and chanted slogans in his support, Ghased News said.
Ahmadinejad's web site, www.president.ir, posted an image of the president at the event however created no mention of the flying footwear.
Throwing shoes may be a sign of profound disrespect in Arab countries, however not in Iran. In December 2008, an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at President George W. Bush throughout a news conference in Baghdad. He, too, missed. As he was pushed to the ground, the reporter shouted that his act was a "farewell kiss" to the "dog" who launched the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The reporter, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, was released when 9 months in jail.
Though several Iraqis hold Bush in low esteem, opinions were mixed in Iraq following the incident. Some viewed al-Zaidi as a hero, with thousands taking to the streets calling for his release; others said his act went against Arab traditions of honoring guests.
According to the CIA World Factbook, citing official government figures, Iran's unemployment rate last year was thirteen.2%. however several Iranians believe the true figure to be a lot of higher.
He missed, putting a banner behind the president instead, said Ghased News, an unofficial web site. CNN has not been ready to ensure the report independently.
Ghased News said the incident occurred within the northern town of Sari throughout a memorial ceremony for a former oil minister who died last year.
Attendees beat the person till security forces intervened, the positioning reported. the person had been fired from his job at a weaving factory and said he had not received unemployment edges for a year, it said.
Ghased News identified the person as Rashid S., a resident of Sari who was once jailed for throwing eggs and tomatoes at former President Mohammad Khatami.
The audience apologized to Ahmadinejad and chanted slogans in his support, Ghased News said.
Ahmadinejad's web site, www.president.ir, posted an image of the president at the event however created no mention of the flying footwear.
Throwing shoes may be a sign of profound disrespect in Arab countries, however not in Iran. In December 2008, an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at President George W. Bush throughout a news conference in Baghdad. He, too, missed. As he was pushed to the ground, the reporter shouted that his act was a "farewell kiss" to the "dog" who launched the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The reporter, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, was released when 9 months in jail.
Though several Iraqis hold Bush in low esteem, opinions were mixed in Iraq following the incident. Some viewed al-Zaidi as a hero, with thousands taking to the streets calling for his release; others said his act went against Arab traditions of honoring guests.
According to the CIA World Factbook, citing official government figures, Iran's unemployment rate last year was thirteen.2%. however several Iranians believe the true figure to be a lot of higher.
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