| Kippreport.com

“Terrorist” threatens legal action against Bruno movie

July 14, 2009 10:05 by Dana El Baltaji

The “terrorist leader” featured in Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest release, Bruno, told Israel-based website World Net Daily (WND) he is shocked by his cameo in the movie. Ayman Abu Aita claims ‘Bruno’ a gay, Austrian character played by Cohen, approached Aita under false pretenses. Aita calls Cohen a “big liar” who “made up stories” while on CBS’s David Letterman show last week about the circumstances of Bruno’s encounter with Aita.

“[Baron Cohen] said this was a film going to help the Palestinian cause,” Aita told WND. “When I heard (four days ago) what this film was about I really didn’t believe it.”

The film follows Bruno, an eccentric Austrian television host, as he moves to Los Angeles to become “the biggest Austrian star since Hitler.” The movie includes graphic sex scenes and full-frontal nudity.

Bruno met with Aita, who is labeled in the film as a “terrorist group leader” from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, to request to be kidnapped as part of his bid to become famous.

Aita, however, was told a different story: “He said he is a German actor making documentaries watched by young people,” Aita explained. “He wanted to make a story to mobilize the young people to help us (Palestinians). … I didn’t have any impression he would use my interview in a bad way.”

As for being a terrorist, Aita claims he served in the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades from 2000 until 2003, but has since left the controversial group. Today he is a representative of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party to the West Bank town of Beit Sahor, and a board member of the Holy Land Trust, a nongovernmental organization promoting Palestinian rights and commitment to nonviolence.

Aita claims his appearance in the movie has “made me big damages,” and is seeking legal representation.

Matthew Labov, Cohen’s publicist, and Universal Studios, which released the film both had no comment when contacted by WND.

Tags: Ayman Abu Aita, Bruno, Crime, David Letterman, Palestine, Sasha Baron Cohen