Iraqi Shoe Hurling Reporter Gets 3 Year Sentence

I think this was a little harsh. It was Bush for pete's sake and shoes not boots lol! He wasn't trying to hurt him just humiliate him which Bush does a pretty good job doing that without any help. It would have been really funny if he hit the judge with his shoes during sentencing.



Lawyer: Iraqi shoe-hurler is jailed for 3 years - Conflict in Iraq- msnbc.com

BAGHDAD - The Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at then-President George W. Bush was convicted Thursday of assaulting a foreign leader and sentenced to three years in prison, lawyers said. He shouted "long live Iraq" when the sentence was read.

The verdict came after a short trial in which Muntadhar al-Zeidi, 30, pleaded not guilty to the charge and said his action was a "natural response to the occupation."

Some of his relatives collapsed after the verdict and had to be helped out of court. Others were forcibly removed by security forces when they became unruly, shouting "Down with Bush" and "Long live Iraq."


Al-Zeidi could have received up to 15 years in prison for hurling his shoes at Bush last December during a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

But defense lawyers said the judge showed leniency because of al-Zeidi's age and clean record. Many Iraqis consider al-Zeidi a hero for defiantly expressing his anger at a president who they believe destroyed their country after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Thousands across the Muslim world took to the streets to demand his release.

'Not just'
Defense lawyers said they would appeal because they believe the action was a legitimate political protest and did not merit prison time.

"This judiciary is not just," al-Zeidi's brother, Dargham, said tearfully.

The journalist has been in Iraqi custody since the Dec.14 news conference where he threw his shoes at Bush, who quickly ducked to avoid being hit. Al-Zeidi was quickly wrestled to the ground by guards and dragged away.

During Thursday's proceedings, al-Zeidi, wearing a beige suit over a brown shirt and brown leather shoes, walked swiftly to the wooden pen where defendants are kept and greeted the panel of three judges with a nod and a wave.

Presiding Judge Abdul-Amir al-Rubaie asked al-Zeidi whether he was innocent or guilty.

"I am innocent. What I did was a natural response to the occupation," the defendant replied.

The proceedings took place under heavy guard with scores of armed policemen inside the courtroom and the Iraqi soldiers who escorted al-Zeidi waiting outside.

The trial began on Feb. 19 but was adjourned until Thursday as the judges weighed a defense argument that the current charge is not applicable because Bush was not in Baghdad on an official visit, having arrived unannounced and without an invitation.

Al-Rubaie on Thursday read a response from the prime minister's office insisting it was an official visit.

Chief defense attorney Dhia al-Saadi then demanded that the charge be dismissed, saying his client's action "was an expression of freedom and does not constitute a crime."

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The trial began on Feb. 19 but was adjourned until Thursday as the judges weighed a defense argument that the current charge is not applicable because Bush was not in Baghdad on an official visit, having arrived unannounced and without an invitation.

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I agree with the defense...on this. Matlock would be proud...:thumbsup:

heh if a court sent an american civilian to jail 3 years for throwing a shoe the judge would, and if not should, be put in jail!


fucking bullshit, why is it that throwing shoes at a public figure has a clearly defined correlation between their importance and the jail sentence????

and heh, it was 3 shoes he thrown! a year for each shoe seems a bit profound though.. what about 3 days detention, that is the level of punishment i'd expect!


Peace,
Denial

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Al-Zeidi could have received up to 15 years in prison for hurling his shoes at Bush last December during a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

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feeling quite angry here... if they sent bush family to jail for the half a million people or so they managed to kill in the last century that'd be about 25,000,000 years maximum sentence. lol how come the bushes get a break but the nobody reporter doesn't.. oh he has no proper representation :O


Peace,
Denial

Exteremly harsh!!! Im sure hes gotten beaten mltiple times along with thsi punishment also. He really shouldnt have missed

I consider it a good thing he missed. The point he was trying to make was proven, and if he did hit Bush, the punishment would probably be more severe.

That corrupt fuck should feel fortunate someone hasn't thrown the book at him, hell, any book would do providing it was hard bound. I thought all those guys throw rocks, wouldn't that have been priceless, an Iraqi split GW's wig.:S2: Great post FBR

he's lucky he threw his shoes at Bush, had he thrown them at a raghead official, they would have cut his feet off ... Bingo ! no more need for shoes :D

if that wouldve been obama up there nobody would be laughing about this

its an american president regardless of what you think about him

if you want to get down to it, bush, in his 8 years never did anything close to what obama has done in his first 2 months