By: Vickie J. Rubinson
A Palestinian grocer labeled as a "terrorist group leader" in the movie "Bruno" has filed a $110 million lawsuit, saying the film ruined his life.
Ayman Abu Aita says in a Dec. 2 complaint that he suffered "extensive damage and loss" as result of his appearance in "Bruno" and from British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's promotion of the film on CBS's Late Show With David Letterman.
Cohen, who plays the gay Austrian TV host Bruno in the film, told Letterman in a July 7 appearance that he interviewed a "terrorist from a pretty nasty group called the al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade--the number one suicide bombers out there "at a secret location" with a security guard.
The film, released three days later, went on to identify Aita with a banner under his face that sported his full name and the label "terrorist group leader al-aqsa martyr's brigade."
The lawsuit, brought against Cohen, Letterman, NBC Universal and the director of Bruno, Larry Charles Wengrod, claims that Aita is a "peace activist, family man and prominent businessman" who never had any dealing with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade or "any other terrorist activity or cause."
Aita said he now is a rep of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, and he is a board member of the Holy Land Trust, a nongovernmental organization promoting Palestinian community-building.
"My file is clear with the Americans. I was in the states twice and I travel all the time," he told the Guardian in July.
"I am a non-violent activist and I am not ashamed of that," he said.
Aita told the Guardian that the "security guard" shown in his interview with "Bruno" was actually another member of the Holy Land Trust. And he said the movie interview did not take place in a secret location, as Cohen claimed, but at a restaurant and hotel selected by the film's crew in an Israeli-controlled district of the West Bank. He said he could not possibly have been armed, as Cohen suggested in the Letterman appearance, because Palestinians are not allowed to carry weapons at that location.
Asked why he did the interview with Cohen, Aita told WND, "Therre was nothing special. He said he is a German actor making documentaries watched by young people...He wanted to make a story to mobilize the young people help us (Palestinians)...I didn't have any impression he would use my interview in a bad way."
Aita is seeking $10 million for compensatory damages, $100 million for exemplary damages, "reasonable attorney's fees, & costs to follow," and that "Bruno" be withdrawn from commercial distribution "by whatever means."
A Palestinian grocer labeled as a "terrorist group leader" in the movie "Bruno" has filed a $110 million lawsuit, saying the film ruined his life.
Ayman Abu Aita says in a Dec. 2 complaint that he suffered "extensive damage and loss" as result of his appearance in "Bruno" and from British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's promotion of the film on CBS's Late Show With David Letterman.
Cohen, who plays the gay Austrian TV host Bruno in the film, told Letterman in a July 7 appearance that he interviewed a "terrorist from a pretty nasty group called the al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade--the number one suicide bombers out there "at a secret location" with a security guard.
The film, released three days later, went on to identify Aita with a banner under his face that sported his full name and the label "terrorist group leader al-aqsa martyr's brigade."
The lawsuit, brought against Cohen, Letterman, NBC Universal and the director of Bruno, Larry Charles Wengrod, claims that Aita is a "peace activist, family man and prominent businessman" who never had any dealing with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade or "any other terrorist activity or cause."
Aita said he now is a rep of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, and he is a board member of the Holy Land Trust, a nongovernmental organization promoting Palestinian community-building.
"My file is clear with the Americans. I was in the states twice and I travel all the time," he told the Guardian in July.
"I am a non-violent activist and I am not ashamed of that," he said.
Aita told the Guardian that the "security guard" shown in his interview with "Bruno" was actually another member of the Holy Land Trust. And he said the movie interview did not take place in a secret location, as Cohen claimed, but at a restaurant and hotel selected by the film's crew in an Israeli-controlled district of the West Bank. He said he could not possibly have been armed, as Cohen suggested in the Letterman appearance, because Palestinians are not allowed to carry weapons at that location.
Asked why he did the interview with Cohen, Aita told WND, "Therre was nothing special. He said he is a German actor making documentaries watched by young people...He wanted to make a story to mobilize the young people help us (Palestinians)...I didn't have any impression he would use my interview in a bad way."
Aita is seeking $10 million for compensatory damages, $100 million for exemplary damages, "reasonable attorney's fees, & costs to follow," and that "Bruno" be withdrawn from commercial distribution "by whatever means."
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