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Iraqi jailed for Bush shoe attack

by nehalarya | March 12, 2009 at 04:09 am

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3-year jail for Iraqi man who threw shoe at Bush.An Iraqi court on Thursday sentenced the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then US president George W Bush to three years in prison.

An Iraqi journalist hailed as a hero in the Arab world for throwing his shoes at former US President George W Bush has been jailed for three years.

Muntadar al-Zaidi had told the court his actions were "natural, just like any Iraqi" against a leader whose forces had occupied his country.

Shoe hurling is a grave insult in Arab culture, but Mr Bush - on a farewell trip to Iraq - shrugged off the attack.

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 04:37 on March 12th, 2009

Thanks for this story, nehalarya!

sara star

at 04:56 on March 12th, 2009

Defence lawyers described the sentence as "harsh" and said they would appeal.

...The trial was held behind closed doors, and details emerging from the latest chaotic hearing are sketchy.

...One report says he shouted "long live Iraq" as the verdict against him was read out.

...Defence lawyers had argued that since the shoes did not hit Mr Bush, Zaidi should not be charged with assault against a foreign head of state on an official visit, under article of 223 of Iraq's penal code.

....Judges adjourned the trial on 19 February to rule on whether Mr Bush's surprise arrival in Baghdad in December had constituted an official visit.

...Mr Bush was said to harbour "no hard feelings" towards Mr Zaidi after the attack

nehalarya

at 09:41 on March 12th, 2009

Thanks sara

sara star

at 04:58 on March 12th, 2009

This man should not be jailed. It is better throwing a shoe than a bullet.

kevin kevin (not verified)

at 04:59 on March 12th, 2009

I rather have a shoe thrown at me, Then a Bomb!

azzayindia

at 07:44 on March 12th, 2009

i agree shoe throwing means that the Iraqis want to get out of bomb throwing mode.That should be encouraged as for me i have seen such seens in my parliaments and lstate assemblies to often where Mikes have been thrown and in some cases people have been thrown pout of the assembly

Ravinwood_777

at 05:25 on March 12th, 2009

Too bad he missed the target

Barry Artiste

at 06:34 on March 12th, 2009

Come on 3 years is a little harsh for doing what pretty much every pissed off Taxpayer dreams of doing the same thing to every politician in their own country. I say make him a cast member of Saturday Night Live!

Blue Crush

at 06:43 on March 12th, 2009

Guess who played President Obama on last week's episode of SNL?

Paschen

at 07:54 on March 12th, 2009

A fine would have been enough.

jazzyzazzy

at 08:18 on March 12th, 2009

Gone over the top again , no actually bodily harm, to Bush, smell a rat here. Hmmmmmmmmmm

Barbara McPherson

at 08:27 on March 12th, 2009

It does seem overly harsh considering what Bush has done to their country.

Yellow Guitar

at 08:37 on March 12th, 2009

If the shoe fits, toss it. Three years is ridiculous. What's the point?

René

at 08:44 on March 12th, 2009

It could have been Richard Reid's shoe. that would have been very very bad. He made the Iraqis lose face. So ....

Jarrett Martineau

at 08:51 on March 12th, 2009

Three years??

Pasi

at 10:52 on March 12th, 2009

Very heavy sentence, if you ask me.

Make love not shoes.

LynnSlawDog (not verified)

at 11:30 on March 12th, 2009

Yeah, focus on Bush and not the shoe!

israeli.agent

at 12:20 on March 12th, 2009

Excuse me..!

In the neighboring Iran also someone threw a shoe at another leader. Any update on what happened to that "man with a golden shoe" ..!!??

.Agent.

TheCameraObscura

at 12:34 on March 13th, 2009

The Iraq government is sentencing a man to three years in jail for throwing a shoe at Former President Bush who is responsible for half a million Iraqi murders.

Iraq was definitely better under Saddam Hussein.

Possum-killer

at 22:11 on June 18th, 2009

Yea im not surprised that they threw a shoe at him. He actually gave me chronic anxiety with some of the things he pulled. Carma is a wierd thing. I thinks its funny though : )