Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi, who has become famous for his defiance of Bush and the U.S. occupation during a press conference in December 2008, has been sentenced to three years in prison by an Iraqi court.
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Several family members screamed, “It’s an American court … sons of dogs.” The family said they would not only appeal but also press ahead with plans to bring torture charges against Bush, Maliki and his bodyguards at a human rights court abroad.
While then-President George W. Bush lauded the brutal and illegal U.S. occupation at a press conference at the palace of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, al-Zaidi threw one of his shoes at Bush, shouting: “This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog!” Throwing his second shoe, he added; “This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq.” Al-Zaidi was swiftly whisked away, beaten and put under arrest by Maliki’s guards.
Al-Zaidi’s brave act of resistance was promptly embraced throughout the world wherever oppressed and exploited people are fighting imperialist domination. The very next day, hundreds of Iraqis marched into the streets of Baghdad demanding his release. Similar demonstrations took place throughout the Middle East. The shoe-throwing—widely known in Arabic and Islamic cultures as an act of utter contempt—embarrassed the Bush administration by directly challenging the U.S. fa?ade of democratic progress and the rule of law.
Prior to the trial, Al-Zaidi’s brother had told the Los Angeles Times that al-Zaidi had lost a tooth and his nose had required stitches because of the beatings he had suffered. “There were cigarette burns behind his ears. He was beaten with metal rods. His eyes were swollen. They have assigned two medical doctors … to provide him with treatment in order to hide the evidence of torture.” Al-Zaidi’s lawyer Dhiya’a al-Sa’adi and court documents provided evidence of the violence inflicted upon al-Zaidi.
The trial took place before the Central Criminal Court of Iraq on Feb. 19, and lasted only 90 minutes. He was greeted by cheers and applause from supporters rallying in front of the court to demand his freedom.
In his court testimony, al-Zaidi described his growing frustration as Bush spoke about his “victories” and “achievements” at the Dec.18 press conference. Al-Zaidi said he was thinking about the sanctity of mosques being violated, the rape of women and daily humiliations faced by Iraqis. Bush’s “bloodless and soulless smile” and his joking banter moved him to put his own life on the line.
“I don’t know what accomplishments he was talking about. The accomplishments I could see were the more than 1 million martyrs and a sea of blood. There are more than 5 million Iraqi orphans because of the occupation. … More than a million widows and more than 3 million displaced because of the occupation.”
Prime Minister al-Maliki told an interviewer with a straight face after the verdict that al-Zaidi “was not respected by the Iraqi people.” But al-Maliki’s unwavering deference to his Washington patrons do little to hide al-Zaidi’s popularity in Iraq and throughout the Arab world. Al-Zaidi and countless others who refuse to bow before U.S. aggression are an inspiration for all peoples struggling for liberation.
