ZEITOUN

ZEITOUN recounts the moving true story of a Syrian-born painting contractor and his wife who are caught up in the mismanagement of post-Katrina New Orleans. Victimized by the “War on Terror,” Zeitoun is wrongfully imprisoned as a terrorist amid the chaos after the hurricane. Ironically, he had decided to remain behind to contribute to the rescue efforts. Blackwater and other "tactical units" capture Zeitoun, and his anguished wife has no idea why he has disappeared. Firdous Bamji retains a strikingly calm tone while describing these racial injustices and false accusations. Even while Zeitoun's frantic wife calculates that among those deployed to keep the peace in New Orleans there are 28,000 assault weapons, Bamji remains quietly and smoothly factual, neutral yet warm. Another bone-chilling, and fresh, account of this most egregious domestic policy disaster. A.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2009]