Muntazer al-Zaidi - George Bush Shoe-Thrower Released Early

by Alyzee | September 15, 2009 at 09:29 am

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Muntazer al-Zaidi is was reportedly released from prison yesterday, according to yahoo news. The 30-year-old reporter became world famous when he threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad in December 2008.

In Zaidi's first comments after his release he talked about how he was tortured by 'waterboarding' - a torture method that simulates the feeling of drowning. Zaidi was also reportedly electrocuted and whipped. Zaidi is serious suffering health complications and will most likely travel to Greece for medical treatment, according to the telegraph.

Zaidi's defiant shoe-throwing turned him into a national hero in Iraq, and arguably with anyone with anti-Iraq war and anti-George Bush sentiments. At the time of the incident, the United States had occupied Iraq for nearly 6 years, USA today reports.

Venezuela's anti-American President Hugo Chavez called him courageous; a Libyan group headed by Muammar Gaddafi's daughter gave him an award for bravery; fathers from other Arab nations have offered Muntazer their daughters as brides.

Zaidi was sentenced to 3 years in prison after he pleaded not guilty to assaulting former President Bush.

At the start of his trial in February, Zaidi said Bush's smile as he talked about achievements in Iraq had made him think of "the killing of more than a million Iraqis, the disrespect for the sanctity of mosques and houses, the rapes of women."

His sentence was reduced to one year because he had no previous criminal record. On account of his good behavior, he was released yesterday, 3 months early.

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