Iraqi shoe thrower faces 15 year jail term - reports

The journalist who threw his shoes at former US president George W. Bush is due to face trial on Feb. 19 on a chrge that carries a maximum 15-year prison sentance, a court official has confirmed.

Defence lawyers for Muntazer Al Zaidi's appealed to have the charges against him reduced from assault to the lesser offence of insulting Bush.

But on Monday UK daily The Independent reported that the Iraqi appeals court had turned the application down saying it was a matter for the criminal court.

"The Iraqi appeals court has rejected the appeal submitted by Muntader Al Zaidi's defence lawyer to change the charges, and decided to set February 19 as the date for trial," said Iraqi judiciary council spokesman Abdul Sattar Al Birqdar.

Al Zaidi has been held in jail in Baghdad since hurling both shoes at Bush at a news conference on Dec. 14, during the then president's final visit to Iraq.

The event was captured by international news channels was watched by millions all over the world, including in Arab countries where many applauded the act as an insult against the US.

However, Iraqi law has a statuate that forbids agression against visiting leaders, the defence's arguement is that shoe throwing is not agressive as it causes no actual harm.

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READERS' COMMENTS

15 years in prison!!!!!!!!
Posted by Saeed W on Tuesday 10 February 2009 at 09:41 UAE time


Unbelievable.

There was an article sometime ago claiming that the reporter might be charged for attempted murder (as silly as it sounds, believe me guys it is true!!!!).

First of all I have never heard of anyone dying by a shoe! So if anyone has heard of such cases were people have died by a shoe please enlighten me.

Secondly, if it’s said that the reporter may be sentenced to prison for 15 years, what should George W Bush get for the millions of Iraqi people who died during the US invasion of Iraq??!!!

In this modern world, it disgusts me to see such hypocrisy. US claim that by kicking out the old regime they have introduced freedom in Iraq (yeah right!!!!!!!). that’s why this guy is getting into so much trouble for expressing his feelings.

By no means I am saying that what he did was right (u can’t have people throwing shoes at visiting heads of states) but that doesn’t mean that he deserve to go to 15 years in prison!!!! People should ask themselves that if the shoe thrower was in the US or Europe what would have been his punishment? 15 years in prison, I doubt it.

The Next Policy
Posted by Raj, Dubai on Tuesday 10 February 2009 at 06:43 UAE time


Based on this, the next policy would be for every one who attends the US Presidents press conference to leave their shoe at the door

Shoe Throwing
Posted by SlikNik, Dubai, UAE on Monday 9 February 2009 at 17:42 UAE time


Something should be said on behalf of the American Govt so that this guys doesn't get 15 years.
He threw a shoe for goodness sakes... How many bombs has that man thrown at him and his people?
It is an utter disgrace that he should even be in jail now!
Bush's lasting legacy..... A reporter making a harmless statement has landed him 15 years in jail... Brilliant way to win hearts and minds....
I really do hope Bush has terrible trouble coming to terms with the hurt and distruction he has caused.
Bye Bye Bush.......

Capital Punishment for throwing a shoe, so what is it for throwing a bomb?
Posted by Jameel Iqbal, Bombay, India on Monday 9 February 2009 at 16:12 UAE time


I hope the lawmakers in other countries, where similar shoe-throwing incidents have taken place since, do not copy the iraqi law.

Some democracy this...its more of a MOCKRECY!!!! Perhaps the remanents of bush administration are putting pressure on them to take strong action.

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