Iraqis hail shoe-throwing journalist

Your Daily Contributor for News, Technology, Sports, and Entertainment

Iraqis hail shoe-throwing journalist

15 December 2008 Comments

Posted by Sherwin

Thousands of Iraqis have demonstrated in Baghdad in support of Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the news reporter being held in custody after throwing his shoes at President George W. Bush at a news conference.

In Sadr City, supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr burned American flags to protest against Bush and called for the release of al-Zaidi.

“Bush, Bush, listen well: Two shoes on your head,” the protesters chanted in unison.

In many parts of the Middle East, Arabs hailed the journalist as a hero and admired his offense as an appropriate send-off to the U.S. president.

“This is a farewell kiss, you dog,” al-Zaidi yelled in Arabic as he threw his shoes. “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.”

bush shoe protest

The Al-Baghdadia reporter was detained for what the Iraqi government on Monday said was a “barbaric and ignominious act” during a news conference the previous day.

According to CNN, he faced testing for alcohol and drugs to determine his state of mind. He was also interrogated about whether anybody paid him to protest during the press conference.

Al-Zaidi is a Shia Muslim in his late 20s who was abducted and by an unknown rebel group in November 2007 and held for more than two days.

An Iraqi lawyer told AFP that al-Zaidi risked a minimum of two years in prison if he is prosecuted for insulting a visiting head of state, but could face a 15-year term if he is charged with attempted murder.

In case you haven’t seen it yet… here’s the Bush shoe-throwing video.

Photo: CBC News

raghddaa2

hilarious

Rahul Jadhav

yup, thats hilarious. I couldnt stop laughing

Rahul Jadhav

lol that was hilarious. I couldnt stop laughing

Adam

Chimps throw things...adult humans do not. Isn't he a journalist? Is he unaware of the power of the pen? Should a journalist who is unaware of the power of the pen have a job as a journalist? What would've happened to him had he thrown a shoe at Saddam I wonder?

Retired LE

Had he thrown it at Hussein, he would have had his feet amputated - if he lived that long. Your analogy of a chimp is spot on. The guy is a fricking idiot.

George

Muntadhar al-Zaidi is obviously very directionless in life as was demonstarted by his shoe throwing incident .... he could not even hit a target 5 yards away which makes him an ideal suicide bomber ..... My advise is for him is to put on his vest and he has a guaranteed "hit" or even better, become a suicide bomber instructor. I can just hear his last words....."Class, please pay attention, I can only demonstrate this once" !

Litz

Not only shoes, shit should also be thrown on each and every american who supported killing of 200,000 Iraqis through war. Atleast Saddam killed some 25,000 Iraqis between 1978 and 2003, whereas Amercans have killed/butchers/raped 200,000 within a span of 4 years. Keep it up! Your economy will screw you and will be out of world domination. Amen!

George

Not sure where you get your information from but you are obviously ill informed ....do you know where Iraq is ?

P K

George, Is it still there?

George

:) Osama's buddies which are the "friends" of Iraq according to some are blowing it to pieces so might not be there much longer.

Marie

Muntadhar al-Zaidi was acting out on behalf of the rage, sadness and pain caused to all Iraqis who have lost loved ones through the American occupation of Iraq. Bush's reaction was hypocrytical as a stateman very well knows the implication when shoes are thrown in the manner in the Arab world. He laughed it off as a joke, margenlizing and undermining its purpose.

Let the world and Iraq truly taste democracy in action!! Let him be a poster boy for the 1st taste of DEMOCRACY in action. Free the young man with a simple fine as he is a journalist and expressed his right to freedom of speech! He does not hate Americans, he loathes its leader and with good reason too. His political statement is felt by the entire world only he was brave enough to do what no one would dare....call a dog by its name.

thanks

George

The only thing I agree with Marie is call the dog by its name ..... Muntadhar al-Zaidi I take it. I am proud father of a US Marine and proud of the excellent work the US forces are doing in Iraq and for that matter anywhere in the world. They (US Forces) demonstrate backbone, wisdom and patriotism which is see is lacking in a lot of these articles. Thanks to the military who protects our Democracy !!!

Retired LE

I don't care if he was reacting because of an ingrown toenail. You do not disrespect a head of state in that manner. If I was standing next to him when he did it, he would have lost some teeth.

Abuya

It is good to perform the show-throwing act to a living Jamrah from US, because the Muslims are still in the Hajj month where throwing stones to Jamrah ( stone idols) is a part of the Hajj pillars.