Relatives of Muntader al-Zaidi, who threw a shoe at President George W. Bush in December, celebrating Thursday because he got a lighter sentence than expected. ( Ahmad Al-Rubaye/Agence France-Presse)

Iraqi who threw his shoes at Bush sentenced to 3 years in prison

By Marc Santora

Published: March 12, 2009

E-Mail Article

Printer-Friendly

3-Column Format

Translate

Text Size

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi journalist who gained acclaim for hurling his shoes at President George W. Bush during his visit here in December was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison as distraught family members and supporters wept outside the courtroom.

Although views differed among Iraqi journalists and observers about whether the sentence was merited, there was the sense that his gesture, which made headlines around the world, would be burned into the Iraqi narrative of the U.S. occupation.

"This will become part of Iraqi political folklore," said Ghassan al-Attiya, a political analyst at the Iraqi Institute for Democracy and Development, in London. "This is a symbolic act that caught the imagination of the masses and not just in Iraq."

The journalist, Muntader al-Zaidi, had pleaded not guilty, saying at a hearing this month that he was overcome by passion because of the suffering of the people of Iraq since the American invasion six years ago.

At the trial Thursday, Zaidi appeared calm. He wore a beige suit and dark brown tie and when asked if he was guilty, he said: "I am innocent. It was a natural reaction to the crimes of the occupation."

Just before the sentencing, journalists were barred from the room, as was his family. Seconds after the verdict was read, word trickled out and his sisters and aunts wept loudly, some praying, others cursing the judiciary.

The men of his family shouted as well, insulting the sentries who were guarding the court.

The lawyer who led Zaidi's defense team, Dhiya al-Saadi, said the decision would be appealed to the Court of Cassation, the nation's highest court.

Some experts said they expected that the government would pardon him after he had served part of his sentence.

"Hero," supporters shouted as Zaidi was escorted from the courtroom. He smiled, but it was unclear from his reaction whether he was shocked or heartened.

Family members and politicians from the movement led by Moktada al-Sadr, an anti-American Shiite cleric, charged that the sentence was political and had been determined even before Zaidi's lawyer had made his closing argument.

"This is a setback in the history of the Iraqi judiciary," said Maha al-Dori, a member of Parliament loyal to Sadr.

Among journalists, opinion was divided about whether the sentencing was fair. Some said Zaidi had been expressing his opinion and did not deserve to be jailed, especially since the gesture had not harmed Bush.

Others said he had brought shame on Iraq, because in a society where tribal traditions are accorded respect, a host should never insult a guest — even an enemy.

Zaidi's shoe-throwing brought shame on Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, who embodied the Iraqi state, which was hosting Bush, they said.

"Internationally, Zaidi's act is considered a way of practicing democracy, but maybe it is unaccepted in Arab and Middle East countries," said Ziad al-Ajeeli, head of the Iraqi Observers of Press Freedom, an organization that supports journalists' rights.

"A journalist in an occupied country cannot be objective about the occupier," said Maher Faisal, the managing editor of Addustour, a daily newspaper published in Baghdad. "He expressed his opinion and by Western standards they should release Muntader."

But the editor of another newspaper and the news manager of an independent television channel said Zaidi's actions had embarrassed other journalists. "It was not professional," said the television manager. Both asked that their names not be used because of the sensitivity of the case with the government.

All three noted that journalists were now having trouble getting politicians to meet for interviews or news conferences because of anxiety that journalists might throw shoes at them.

Many people here had expected a longer prison term, but at the sentencing Thursday the prosecutor asked that the charge be changed to one with a lighter penalty. Instead of assault on a foreign head of state, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, Zaidi was charged with assault on an official during the execution of his duties, a crime carrying a maximum sentence of three years. Judge Abdulamir Hassan al-Rubaie, who oversaw the trial, agreed.

Riyadh Muhammed and Anwar J. Ali contributed reporting.