Ayman Abu Aita, Bruno's "Terrorist," Threatens Legal Action

According to a report, a man interviewed by Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno and labeled as a terrorist is furious at his depiction and is threatening legal action

Last week on Letterman, Sacha Baron Cohen - appearing as himself - told Dave the story of meeting what he deemed to be a real terrorist. Cohen described hiring a bodyguard for his secretly located West Bank meeting with Ayman Abu Aita, labeled in "Bruno" as a terrorist from Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. Cohen said he also believed Aita was carrying a weapon

But Aita told wnd.com that he ceased his involvement with the organization years ago, he did not carry a weapon to the interview with Bruno and he does not have a bodyguard.

Aita called Cohen a "big liar" and said he's trying to hire a lawyer, as the film "made me big damages."

Read the whole Aita interview here and watch Cohen discuss their meeting on Letterman here.

Meanwhile "Bruno" opened at #1.

Here's the scene from "Bruno":

Comments

[TammyKnowsBest]

Whoever is maintaining the occupation and making it impossible for people to live in freedom are terrorists and they're not the residents in the West Bank.

[AmericanWarrior]

co-sign

[MemoryAlpha]

Interesting Observation:
Palestinians have displaced Jews as the persecuted minority subject to hate speech and prejudicial caricatures in popular media.

[Zeta]

The man did not say "get out, get out now" in Arabic. He said, "one more time, what exactly did he say again?"

[yellowdoggie]

I say we lock them in a room together and believe whoever comes out alive.

[MaryscottOConnor]

I miss Bill Hicks.

[NC1165]

I hope he sues his lederhosen right off!

[ihavehope]

I'm not sure I have a problem with seeing any current or former member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade publicly shamed.

[MemoryAlpha]

Query:
How about current/former members of Irgun?

[tanya1111]

The whole concept of "terrorist" is a joke... it is way to re-define warfare so that it has no geography... so we can wage war where there is no "state" against us. It is actually really smart if your goal is to launder half a trillion bucks a year of tax money through the war machine... I mean who is more "terror" inducing, that man or Cheney? Cars kill far more americans than any "terrorist"... they have literally recycled the same speeches against "communism" with the word "terrorism" in its place... you can move "terrorists" and wage war forever.... gotta love it. The real terrorists are the people who invade countries and kill for oil.

[piul05]

You are making far too much sense...

[Chaucea]

Yep, "Terrorism" has been the ultimate marketing tool.

[amalfedup]

Thank you! But then how would a capitalist society exist without war and disease? How will the weapons and health industries make any money?

[MJinCanada]

First, you have to realize that capitalism is not a religion and Mammon hasn't got the power to strike you dead where you stand.

[Winston Smith]

WAR is PEACE

[Usama]

Being called a 'real terrorist' has repercussions. During the Bush era, so many Muslim suspects were arrested and accused of terrorist related charges in America, only to be either charged with minor immigration charges or all charges were dropped. I recall a case when a Muslim American convert lawyer was accused of being a terrorist suspect in the Madrid bombings, except he was a Seattle lawyer. Someone at the FBI got their evidence mixed up.

Cohen has treaded on water with the Muslim community in Britain over his Ali G portrayal. He caused problems there but corrected his path to avoid creating 'real enemies'. Today, many British Muslims like Cohen's comedy. But its possible that he and/or his producers somehow mishandled the Abu Aita situation by calling him a 'real terrorist'. Its like calling someone a real murderer who has never been convicted of murder.

[jtmoney]

this happened over and over after borat came out. people got mad at him b/c he gave them a chance to show how stupid they are on tv. every lawsuit was dropped for borat and the same will happen with bruno. everybody that gets on his movies signs waivers.

[Ergon]

He lied on Letterman, and the waivers misrepresent what people actually sign up for.
But I wouldn't sue him: this documentary, "Carmen Meets Borat" is the best revenge.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=cp_gtfo70ql025&show_article=1&catnum=6

[Ergon]

According to the article, all Abu Aita was accused of was shooting at Isareli soldiers in Jerusalem. Definitely not a terrorist; some would call him a hero, actually.

[fbr79]

Great, now that we know you enlightened opinion on a local conflict a thousand miles away we can ignore you and continue laughing at Ayman Abu Aita.

[Ergon]

I would bet that more people world wide would agree with me than you.

[Diaschisis]

At least he is hiring a lawyer instead of strapping a bomb to his chest. Progress I guess.

[Ergon]

He shot at soldiers. Get your facts straight.

[playon]

Excellent free publicity for the film.

[Shirley Fisk]

7/13/09
2:58pm
Sunny Isles Beach, FL

I love this clip. So funny.

[Prattvictory2]

Cohen said he was the first to interview a "real terrorist." Apparently he missed the interviews with Ariel Sharon.

[FirstBiteBooks]

Not Cheney?

[Prattvictory2]

Yeah Cheney to but Baron Sasha Cohen is an Israeli and choosing a Palestinian as his terrorist is another unnecessary finger to the eye.

[JaneDoe1979]

how about Jerimiah Wright? Oh, I forgot, black folks CANNOT be ridiculed. Not free speech. Even when they are ridiculous

[LeftLeanWing]

what does Jeremiah Wright have to do with this movie ?

or did you mean Bill Ayers ?_________­__________­__

Has anyone been arrested for ridiculing 'black folks' that you are aware of, or compelled by force of law from ridiculing 'black folk'. If not , why is this a freedom-of-speech issue ?

Now if you want you can ridicule all the 'black folk' you want. But you might meet some resistance when you do..... I"M JUST SAYING.

[danbrian]

That ain't cool