Aftermath Bush shoeing incident

1 aftermath

1.1 reaction
1.2 al-zaidi

1.2.1 injuries
1.2.2 timeline
1.2.3 trial
1.2.4 sentencing
1.2.5 release
1.2.6 statements following release


1.3 parodies

aftermath
reaction

following incident, new york times reported al-zaidi embraced around arab world. al-zaidi found support employer, awn hussain al khashlok, thousands of protesters in iraq, iraqi politicians, people in syria, charity in libya, , around 200 lawyers including u.s. citizens. al-zaidi s action criticised government of nouri al-maliki. after incident office of nouri al-maliki criticised al-zaidi s action , demanded on-air apology al-baghdadia tv. al-baghdadia tv issued statement demanding al-zaidi s release:

al-baghdadia television demands iraqi authorities release stringer muntadhar al-zaidi, in line democracy , freedom of expression american authorities promised iraqi people on ousting of former iraqi leader saddam hussein.... measures against muntadar considered acts of dictatorial regime.

in tikrit copper statue of 3 meters height dedicated action monument. had shoe s shape , honouring poem inscription. designed laith al-amari. statue taken down according police order shortly after erection. al zaidi has been named world’s third powerful arab, in arabian business power 100 list 2009.

a lebanese tv station offered mr al zaidi job , gave promise salary payment have been started since threw shoe. joke soaring amongst iraqi society prime minister nouri al-maliki should called national football team goalkeeper attempt of knocking shoe off made masterfully .

in september 2009, london-based artist pawel waniewski created ‘proud shoes’ in tribute muntazer al-zaidi s ‘shoe flying incident. waniewski s tribute mr. al-zaidi’s 21kg bronze piece of art depicting thrown shoes, gilded in 24 carat gold.

on 3 march 2010, blancox, colombian detergent manufacturer made advertisement out of shoe-throwing incident, replacing shoes beautiful bouquets of flowers signify fabric freshness , softness treasured in .

malcolm smart of amnesty international said ... iraqi authorities have duty investigate allegations of torture or other ill-treatment of muntadhar al-zaidi , prosecute persons alleged responsible such abuses. iraqi authorities should disclose whereabouts, ensure permitted prompt , regular access legal counsel, family , medical attention requires, , safeguard him torture or other ill-treatment, added.

reporters without borders expressed regret [al-zaidi] used method of protest against politics of american president . said [al-zaidi] injured during arrest , called him released custody. referred bush s relaxed way of speaking incident reason leniency .

the international federation of journalists has said al-zaidi should released humanitarian reasons. given controversy surrounding incident, urge iraqi security services guarantee physical well-being of journalist, injured during arrest, statement said. ifj said incident reflected deep anger @ treatment of iraqi civilians during occupation on past 4 years of journalists have been major victims , journalist might under threat while in detention given record of mistreatment of journalists in custody forces.

the arab lawyers union has called fair trial journalist, support of both arab league , egyptian government. urge human rights organizations , international society save life of iraqi journalist , prevent physical assault may target him, union head sameh ashour said. ashour said union protect al-zaidi s life, @ moment under threat.

the lebanese television channel ntv offered job al-zaidi. ntv said if al-zaidi accepted job offer, paid moment first shoe thrown .

al-zaidi s family turned down invitation venezuelan president come , live in latin american country. grateful president hugo chávez. iraqis, live in iraq, oudai al-zaidi said speaking on behalf of family.

former candidate president of pakistan , president of pakistan jurists association mian muhibullah kakakhel senior advocate, supreme court of pakistan said action showed how international community hates george w. bush.

on december 15, 2008, al-zaidi given bravery award libyan charity group wa attassimou. group urged al-zaidi s release.

in syria, al-zaidi hailed hero . malaysian foreign minister rais yatim, praised incident, calling best show of retaliation far . commentary in north korean newspaper minju chosun said bush deserved shoe throwing incident result of failed policy in iraq .

al-zaidi has been offered six-door mercedes, had song written him, had incident reconstructed in afghan comedy sketch, , been offered hand of man s 20-year-old daughter in marriage. young woman amal saad gumaa said likes idea of being attached man finds honorable.

on december 29, 2008, activists @ iraqi consulate in washington, d.c. delivered petition calling release of al-zaidi. if had wanted hurt george bush, have chosen different weapon, member of code pink said. want iraqi government , world know there sentiment him set free, said nick mottern, director of consumers peace.

the incident has inspired several online shoe-throwing games.

the late show david letterman great moments in presidential speeches segment included flying shoes aimed @ other presidents (via digitally-altered stock footage).

the turkish company believed have made shoes thrown @ bush, ramazan baydan, experienced surge in sales. orders 300,000 pairs received in 1 week. saudi businessman offered us$10 million buy shoes thrown al-zaidi. there calls throughout middle east place shoes in iraqi museum. shoe, ducati model 271, first renamed bush shoe , later bye-bye bush shoe , manufactured baydan shoe company in istanbul. however, producer in lebanon suggested might have made them instead. many shoes in iraq made in china. so, al-zaidi s brother insisted shoes made in baghdad highly-reputable firm named alaa haddad. on december 18, 2008, iraqi , american security agents looking explosives examined , destroyed shoes.

a book written on event called last salute president bush .

mahesh bhatt produced play entitled last salute , directed indian director arvind gaur , starring imran zahid. written rajesh kumar , based on muntadhar al-zaidi s book. pooja bhatt , mahesh bhatt announced making of film based on play. bush-maliki news conference. baghdad, december 2008 , drawing dmitry borshch, has been exhibited @ institute of oriental studies of russian academy of sciences, depaul university, brecht forum , included in catalog of american portraits, maintained smithsonian s national portrait gallery (united states).

al-zaidi
injuries

according witnesses, al-zaidi severely beaten security officers after had been dragged out of room following shoe-throwing incident. man s screaming heard outside, bush said s people in free society, draw attention themselves. large blood trail seen on carpet al-zaidi had been dragged security agents. dawa-owned afaq tv reported security forces kicked al-zaidi , beat him. family reports has received many threatening phone calls. united states secret service , iraqi police took custody of al-zaidi. al-zaidi tested alcohol , drugs, , shoes confiscated evidence. al-zaidi interrogated iraqi , u.s. agents ascertain whether paid him throw shoes @ bush. in interview bbc news, al-zaidi s brother, durgham al-zaidi, reported muntadhar al-zaidi suffered broken hand, broken ribs, internal bleeding, , eye injury. durgham al-zaidi told al jazeera brother tortured. al-baghdadia tv said al-zaidi injured during detention. al sharqiya points signs of injury on thighs , immobile right arm. however, different brother, maitham al-zaidi, spoke muntadhar on phone , told: thank god in health. on friday 19 december dhia al-kinani, judge investigating case, said there signs al-zaidi had been beaten; al-zaidi had bruises on face , around eyes. judge said al-zaidi had not yet raised formal charge relating injuries. lawyer, dhiya al-sa adi, has confirmed al-zaidi had been beaten, stating there visible signs of torture on body .

timeline

on december 14, 2008, shoe-throwing incident took place, culminating in al-zaidi s arrest.
on december 15, 2008, hundreds of iraqis marched in baghdad demand release. crowds gathered in sadr city district of baghdad , called hero muntadhar al-zaidi freed custody. there similar scenes in najaf. demonstrators in sadr city , najaf alluded shoes. participants in sadr city waved shoes attached long poles, , in najaf threw shoes @ passing united states military convoy. vast majority of viewers of al-baghdadia telephoned station in order express opinions said approved al-zaidi s actions.
on december 17, 2008, group of iraqi lawmakers demanded legislature take issue of detained journalist. aqeel abdul hussain, head of sadrist bloc, said lawmakers had duty stand detained journalist. of members support government, have admit there mistake in procedures under arrested, said spokesman parliament speaker mashhadani. , must condemn fact beaten, added. session of parliament ended without consensus on action take regarding reporter.
on december 18, 2008, spokesman prime minister nouri al-maliki said al-zaidi wrote letter maliki expressing regret actions , asking pardon. dhargham al-zaidi claims brother severely beaten after being taken iraqi custody. on december 17, amnesty international called on iraqi authorities disclose whereabouts of al-zaidi , investigate allegations of torture or other ill-treatment. judge dhia al-kinani, magistrate investigating incident, said court has opened probe al-zaidi s alleged beating. dhiaa al-saadi, head of iraqi bar association, said that, according court documents, reporter s face , body bruised. investigation process under way in mysterious circumstances, al-zaidi s brother uday said.
on december 19, 2008, thirty of al-zaidi s family members staged rally outside green zone, houses iraqi government , prison al-zaidi being held. in response apology letter al-zaidi said have written, al-zaidi s brother uday stated apology not real one. if [the government] want apology, must first release him can freely , not under pressure. um saad, al-zaidi s sister, said al-zaidi never apologize insulting man occupied our country . said nothing known about... condition, did nothing wrong. on contrary, pleased everyone. bush occupier , source of orphans , widows in iraq. bahaa al-araji, sadrist mp, said journalist muntathir al-zaidi plans press charges against people says beat him. know judges feel him... tomorrow submit formal request zaidi should allowed visits family, said. should call him muntathar al iraqi — not muntathar al-zaidi; of iraq tribe now, leader in sons of iraq movement said of al-zaidi.
on december 20, 2008, reported letter al-zaidi said have written nouri al-maliki apologizes maliki , not george w. bush. al-zaidi said had no remorse throwing shoes @ bush , added repeat actions if sees him again, because bush s forces have killed many of iraq s children . in written statement judge, al-zaidi said expected killed bush s body guards after hurling first shoe. seemed bodyguards not on full alert @ time, how managed throw second shoe, al-zaidi explained. also, hundreds of protesters gathered in park opposite green zone protest treatment of al-zaidi. heavily armed iraqi soldiers surrounded small park , iraqi army helicopters circled overhead demonstrators demanded leave. have told them won’t move anywhere unless grave, said al-zaidi s brother, uday. sunnis , shiites held signs describing al-zaidi son of iraq , humiliator of occupiers . few iraqi soldiers ate food offered them.
on december 21, 2008, al-zaidi claimed physically coerced , never apologize president bush no matter consequences. muntadhar said forced apologize al-maliki , never, never apologize bush, if cut him small pieces, al-zaidi s brother uday told los angeles times. al-zaidi s brother claimed journalist brother had lost tooth , nose had required stitches because of beatings had suffered while in custody. there multiple bruises on body, said. there cigarette burns behind ears. beaten metal rods. eyes swollen. have assigned 2 medical doctors ... provide him treatment in order hide evidence of torture. al-zaidi s brother said jailers periodically demanded confess had been ordered commit act enemies of prime minister, letter prime minister written him jail expressing regret attack not said have been ordered. maliki reiterated zaidi s television station should renounce act of al-zaidi, , suggested, without providing names, person urged him commit act, , person known person beheads people . u.s. secretary of state condoleezza rice argued iraq democracy , history shows these things differently today’s news. iranian deputy minister called al-zaidi s release.
on december 22, 2008, al-zaidi s lawyer dhiya al-sa adi confirmed al-zaidi had been beaten , al-zaidi said never apologize president bush. abdulsattar al-berikdar, spokesman of iraqi supreme judicial council, said court not investigating allegations of torture because al-zaidi did not ask submitted medical committee , did not tell judge tortured or register complaint against anyone. hajar smouni, spokesperson doha center media freedom in qatar, argued al-zaidi should given access medical care , fair trial. smouni said positive met lawyer, said worrying tried @ central criminal court of iraq, because court used try terrorism suspects .
on december 23, 2008, iraqi parliament accepted resignation of speaker, mahmoud al-mashhadani. part of controversy resignation began refusing allow discussion of fate of muntadhar al-zaidi. speaker described al-zaidi pride of iraq , said best friends being detained united states military ties insurgency. weep state of iraq, told iraqi parliament in resignation.
on january 16, 2009, al-zaidi s brother visited him 2 hours , iraqi prison guards threw him surprise birthday party.
on january 19, 2009, swiss newspaper tribune de geneve reported al-zaidi seeking political asylum in switzerland, lawyer said might work journalist @ united nations.
on january 28, 2009, muntadhar al-zaidi cast vote prison.
on january 29, 2009, monument of shoe erected in honor of muntadhar al-zaidi in orphanage in tikrit. orphans helped build structure.
on january 30, 2009, monument erected in honor of muntadhar al-zaidi taken down after requests central government. iraqi police visited location make sure shoe monument removed. not allow use government facilities , buildings political motives, abdullah jabara, deputy governor of salaheddin argued. faten abdulqader al-naseri, orphanage director, said orphans helped sculptor in building monument victims of bush s war. shoe monument gift next generation remember heroic action journalist.
on february 19, 2009, al-zaidi told baghdad central criminal court acted spontaneously after listening bush praise achievements made in iraq: while talking looking @ achievements in mind. more million killed, destruction , humiliation of mosques, violations against iraqi women, attacking iraqis every day , every hour. whole people saddened because of policy, , talking smile on face - , joking prime minister , saying going have dinner him after press conference. believe me, didn t see around me except bush. blind else. felt blood of innocent people bleeding beneath feet , smiling in way. , going have dinner, after destroyed 1 million martyrs, after destroyed country. reacted feeling throwing shoes. couldn t stop reaction inside me. spontaneous.
on february 20, 2009, al-zaidi received 90-minute trial central criminal court of iraq.
on march 12, 2009, sentenced 3 years in prison assaulting foreign head of state during official visit.
on april 7, sentence reduced 1 year 3 years.
on september 15, 2009, released behavior, after serving 9 months of sentence.

trial

al-zaidi appeared before judge (not in court in jail on fears injuries cause anger amongst public if appear in court) on december 16, 2008, , admitted aggression against president. court decided keep him in custody. spokesman iraqi court said al-zaidi face charges of attacking head of state. dheyaa al-saadi, head of iraqi bar association , 1 of high-profile attorneys, said had volunteered defend al-zaidi. judge dhiya al-kenani said court had refused journalist s request bail sake of investigation , own security . according abdul satar birqadr, spokesman iraq s high judicial council, al-zaidi charged assaulting foreign head of state visiting iraq.

on december 30, 2008, iraqi court said al-zaidi s trial had been postponed pending appeal on whether incident amounted assault or insulting foreign leader. charge of assault carry maximum sentence of 15 years, while charges of insulting foreign leader carry maximum sentence of 3 years. 1 of al-zaidi s lawyers said expected lengthy trial , sentence of no less 3 years if al-zaidi convicted. dhargham al-zaidi, said family turn international court if found iraqi jurisdiction system biased , unfair. in january 2009, al-zaidi s lawyers petitioned swiss authorities political asylum, arguing life @ risk in iraq.

the trial began before central criminal court of iraq on february 20, 2009, lasted 90 minutes before being recessed. in testimony before court, al-zaidi described growing frustration bush spoke victories , achievement @ press conference shoe thrown. bush listed gains made in iraq during mid-december news conference, al-zaidi said thinking sanctity of mosques being violated, rape of women, , daily humiliations. al-zaidi said bush s bloodless , soulless smile , joking banter provoked him. don t know accomplishments talking about. accomplishments see more 1 million martyrs , sea of blood. there more 5 million iraqi orphans because of occupation.... more million widows , more 3 million displaced because of occupation. al-zaidi said. wanted restore pride of iraqis in way possible, apart using weapons. al-zaidi said tortured, beaten , given electric shocks during interrogation. supporters rallied in front of court said al-zaidi should praised standing bush rather punished actions. trial resumed briefly on march 12, 2009 after sentence imposed.

sentencing

on march 12, 2009, al-zaidi sentenced 3 years of prison assaulting foreign leader; under law charged under, have faced 15 years in prison assaulting visiting head of state during official visit. lawyers indicated expect appeal sentence. dhia al saadi, head of zaidi s defense team , iraqi lawyers syndicate, argued court sessions should made public according iraqi penalties law. sentence harsh , not in harmony law, , defense team contest in appeals court, dhia al saadi further said. court spokesman abdul-sattar bayrkdar said al-zaidi received minimum prison sentence possible under saddam hussein-era law charged under , al-zaidi appeal court s decision.

upon reading of sentence, al-zaidi shouted long live iraq. judiciary not just, al-zaidi s brother dargham said. zaidi s sister shouted down maliki, agent of americans. zaidi s brother uday said scorns iraqi justice independent , court set according paul bremer decisions. several family members screamed: s american court... sons of dogs. family said not appeal press ahead plans bring torture charges against bush, maliki , bodyguards @ human rights court abroad.

a poll of iraqis suggested 62 percent of iraqis regarded al-zaidi national hero . maha al-dori, iraqi parliament member, said felt ruling showed judges may have been motivated political concerns. iraq s journalistic freedoms observatory said left wait presidential or prime ministerial pardon, because cannot accept iraqi journalist behind bars.

on april 7, 2009, sentence reduced 1 year 3 years. judge abdul sattar al-beeraqdar, spokesman iraq s higher judicial council, said court reduced al-zaidi s sentence because young , had no previous criminal record. iraqi prime minister nouri al-maliki argued al-zaidi have faced 15 years in jail or execution insulting visiting head of state.

release

defense attorney karim al-shujairi said al-zaidi released on september 14, 2009 after spending 9 months in jail, freed behavior. released on september 15, 2009 claiming had been systematically tortured during time in jail , 1 of front teeth seen missing. al-zaidi said had been beaten electric cables , iron bars , immersed in cold water. on 19 october 2009, while in switzerland expected have medical treatment injuries, stated, suffered great deal. still have problems teeth, , other parts of body tortured. al-zaidi declared, free again, homeland still prison. on september 15, 2009, al-zaidi stated not hero, , admit ... person stance. saw country burning.

statements following release

in interview aired on egypt s dream 2 tv on june 12, 2010, al-zaidi stated because of bush s bloodthirsty nature former president visited haiti following massive earthquake. al-zaidi claimed bush did not go there sake of human rights or victims. went there because missed smell of blood, , stench of destruction wreaked on iraq. went there whiff of smell, because sick man.

regarding election of barack obama president of united states, al-zaidi stated in same interview that:

we have saying in iraqi arabic – , m sure egyptian brothers living in iraq know it. away goes white dog, , along comes black dog. same, except color. away goes white president, , along comes black president. no different.

following release, al-zaidi went geneva , announced had started creating humanitarian agency/foundation. aim of agency build orphanages, children s hospital, , medical , orthopaedic centres offering free treatment , manned iraqi doctors , medical staff. lawyer said al-zaidi hopes surf on wave of support has gained good.

parodies

after attacks, incident parodied numerous times on internet. these included online games such sock , awe , flying babush gifs. videos of event went viral on youtube.