IRAQ: Shoe-thrower journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi reported to have left country one day after prison release
Record ID:
789115
IRAQ: Shoe-thrower journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi reported to have left country one day after prison release
- Title: IRAQ: Shoe-thrower journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi reported to have left country one day after prison release
- Date: 16th September 2009
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 15, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MUNTAZER AL-ZAIDI FLANKED BY GUARDS UPON HIS ARRIVAL AT AL-BAGHDADYIA CHANNEL AFTER HIS RELEASE ZAIDI'S SISTER EMBRACING HIM ZAIDI BEING RECEIVED BY SUPPORTERS UPON HIS ARRIVAL
- Embargoed: 1st October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVANRITOF6KWCKMR2N9HZ3EF1WK
- Story Text: Iraqi citizens on Wednesday (September 16) welcomed the release of jailed journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, the man who hurled his shoes at then U.S. President George W. Bush during a news conference in Baghdad on December 14, 2008.
"The release of the journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi is a step in the right direction from a legal perspective, as the government has abided by its plans," said Iraqi Khalid al-Azzawi.
Iraqi media reported that Al-Zaidi had left Iraq on Tuesday for Syria before heading to Greece for medical treatment.
Iraqis said al-Zaidi's travel was a private matter.
"As for his travel to Athens following his release by a day, as they say it's for treatment, but as he claimed in the news conference that U.S. intelligence and government agencies want to finish him off, so he might have left in fear of his life," he added.
In December 2008, millions of people across the world saw footage of al-Zaidi throwing his footwear at Bush and calling him a "dog" -- both grave insults in the Middle East.
"This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," he shouted at Bush as he threw his shoes. "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."
His protest caused huge embarrassment to Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who tried to intercept one of the shoes.
Al-Zaidi was sentenced to three years jail for assaulting a head of state. This was later reduced to one year. He was released on Tuesday (September 15).
Abdullah al-Fatlawee, another Iraqi citizen, said that Muntazer represented Iraqis when he hurled his shoes at Bush.
"In regards to Zaidi, he is an Iraqi citizen, who expressed his emotions of rejecting the U.S. occupation of our country, and he is one of the Iraqi people who is clean and honest, he may have travelled because of circumstances, or an illness or wants to complete a project," al-Fatlawee said.
Television footage on Tuesday showed al-Zaidi arriving at al-Baghdadyia station surrounded by guards. He was wrapped in an Iraqi flag and wore black sunglasses. At his news conference, he accused the Iraqi guards who seized him of beating and electrocuting him.
Al-Zaidi said after he was arrested, he was tortured in a room not far from where the news conference with Bush and al-Maliki was being held. He said guards beat him with cables, metal tubes and gave him electric shocks. Zaidi said he now feared for his life.
His story was not possible to verify independently.
On hearing of his alleged torture, a U.S. State Department spokesman in Washington said it took accusations of torture seriously and hoped the Iraqi government would too. The spokesman added the U.S. was pleased al-Zaidi had been released.
A court ordered Zaidi's release on Monday (September 14). Under Iraqi law, all convicts serving one year with no previous crimes who show good behaviour get out after three quarters of the sentence.
Many Iraqis who backed the war to remove Saddam turned against the U.S. after his fall, angered by such events as its failure to stop looting, the formal occupation led by a U.S. viceroy, and the sexual humiliation of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
After images of the shoe-throwing were broadcast, many people worldwide applauded the journalist. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez called him courageous. A Libyan group headed by Muammar Gaddafi's daughter gave him an award and fathers from Arab countries offered Muntazer their daughters as brides. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None