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Shoe Hurler Gets 3 Years in Prison

Zaidi convicted of assaulting a foreign head of state

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 12, 2009 5:24 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W. Bush during a Baghdad press conference has been sentenced to three years in prison, the Guardian reports. Muntadar al-Zaidi had pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting a foreign head of state, saying his actions were "a natural response to the occupation." His family erupted in anger at the decision, delivered in a Green Zone court normally used for terrorism cases.

Zaidi stood trial for only 90 minutes last month before judges adjourned the case, claiming they needed time to investigate whether Bush was on an official state visit. Several Iraqi politicians attended the first court session, seeing the trial as a test of the country's independent judiciary. Although his lawyer argued that the charges against Zaidi were overly harsh, he could have faced up to 15 years in jail under Saddam-era sentencing guidelines.

Muntadar al-Zaidi throws a shoe at President George W. Bush during a news conference with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad.
Muntadar al-Zaidi throws a shoe at President George W. Bush during a news conference with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A Jordanian protester holds up a picture of George W. Bush with a shoe fixed on it, during a demonstration in support of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi in Amman, Jordan, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008.
A Jordanian protester holds up a picture of George W. Bush with a shoe fixed on it, during a demonstration in support of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi in Amman, Jordan, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)
Zaidi threw two shoes at Bush, one after another. Bush ducked both throws, and neither he nor Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki was hit.
Zaidi threw two shoes at Bush, one after another. Bush ducked both throws, and neither he nor Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki was hit.   (AP Photo/APTN)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
riffran
Mar 13, 2009 5:47 AM CDT
If he would have tossed that shoe at saddam, he would have gone straight to the mass grave site.....he got off lucky
Guest
Mar 12, 2009 6:59 AM CDT
Guns don't kill people, knuckle-draggers with guns do.
Guest
Mar 12, 2009 6:20 AM CDT
Funny, if it was "The Bama" you people would be screaming to have the man shot.

Ahmadinejad dodged a shoe yesterday
New York Daily News

Family says verdict was politically motivated
Reuters

 
Iraq • Baghdad • shoes • trial • George W. Bush • protesters • Muntadhar al-Zeidi

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