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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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10

Shoe-Tosser Released, Says 'I Was Tortured'

Reporter al-Zeidi leaves prison after tossing shoe at Bush last year

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(Newser) – The Iraqi reporter who was locked up for throwing his shoes at George W. Bush says he was tortured in prison, the BBC reports. He was released today after nine months in a Baghdad jail, Reuters notes, and says he plans to identify those officials who tortured him. Relatives say he’s still scared for his life. “Today I am free again but my home is still a prison,” Muntadar al-Zaidi told reporters.

The Iraqi government kept the release quiet, preventing family members from greeting al-Zaidi at the jail and instead taking him to his family’s home, the New York Times reports. Al-Zaidi has called for an apology from Iraq’s prime minister, saying beatings left him with broken bones and internal bleeding. Iraq’s military denies the claims.

Muntadhar al-Zaidi, center, is seen on his release from a Baghdad prison Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.
Muntadhar al-Zaidi, center, is seen on his release from a Baghdad prison Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Muntadar al-Zaidi, an Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at former President George W. Bush, speaks during a press conference after his release from a Baghdad prison Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.
Muntadar al-Zaidi, an Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at former President George W. Bush, speaks during a press conference after his release from a Baghdad prison Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Relatives of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi celebrate as they wave Iraqi flags and hold posters bearing his photo as they await his release from prison in Baghdad, Sept. 14, 2009.
Relatives of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi celebrate as they wave Iraqi flags and hold posters bearing his photo as they await his release from prison in Baghdad, Sept. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Muntadhar al-Zaidi, center, speaks during a press conference at the offices of his employer Baghdadiyah TV after his release from a Baghdad prison Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.
Muntadhar al-Zaidi, center, speaks during a press conference at the offices of his employer Baghdadiyah TV after his release from a Baghdad prison Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Members of CODEPINK hang a sign calling for the release of Muntadar al-Zaidi, the man who threw his shoes at President Bush, Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, outside the Iraqi Embassy in Washington.
Members of CODEPINK hang a sign calling for the release of Muntadar al-Zaidi, the man who threw his shoes at President Bush, Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, outside the Iraqi Embassy in Washington.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
A Jordanian protester holds up a picture of President George W. Bush with a shoe fixed on it, during a demonstration in support of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi in Amman, Jordan, Dec. 20, 2008.
A Jordanian protester holds up a picture of President George W. Bush with a shoe fixed on it, during a demonstration in support of Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi in Amman, Jordan, Dec. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)
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10 comments
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SilenceDogood
Sep 15, 09 7:17 AM CDT
Obviously a cultural issue. Most American probably think the guy needs a good thrashing, but with Islamic hated of America and their customs, they should let the jerk go home peacefully. Live and let live. Reply
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-8
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Timinator2K
Sep 15, 09 8:34 AM CDT
I wouldn't have jailed him, just bruised him up a good one with his own shoes. Had he done that to one of his own islamic leaders, his head would have been separated from his shoulders within the hour after his first toss.
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-2
JonmarkP
Sep 15, 09 7:55 AM CDT
Yes, it was torture, no doubt-but what about *after* Bush's speech? Reply
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+9
IN RESPONSE:
godawgs
Sep 15, 09 8:35 AM CDT
that was actually really funny...
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
Timinator2K
Sep 15, 09 8:39 AM CDT
Had it been Obama, the Iraqi reporter couldn't have thrown his shoes since he'd have been bored to sleep early on.
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