Shoe Lobber Happy at His Release
The Iraqi national who famously threw a shoe at the previous president George W Bush was unapologetic on his release.
He is quoted as saying “I got my chance and took it.”
Muntadhar al-Zaidi served nine months of his one year sentence and was released this week on a conditional discharge. Under Iraqi law a conditional discharge allows a well behaved prisoner their freedom if they have served seventy five percent of their sentence.
al-Zaidi received a hero’s welcome as he left the prison where he spent most of this year. He was mobbed by journalists and family as he exited the compound smiling. He was then taken away to his employer, Al-Baghdadia TV where he was interviewed live on air wearing a sash of the Iraqi national flag.
Giving the reason for his actions he said he was profoundly affected by the US led invasion, and the damage it did to his country. He said he had promised that he would do something to protest and avenge the wrongs he believed his people suffered.
He staged his protest last December when he attended a news conference held by the former president in Iraq. He threw both his shoes at the president and called him a “dog.” These are two of the worst insults an Arab can express.
The president to his credit ducked the shoes and made a joke afterwards, but it must have sent the Secret Service into convulsions.
The only apology al-Zaidi has ever expressed has been to his fellow journalists, who had seen the act as unprofessional. In his defence al-Zaidi said “Professionalism does not preclude nationalism.”
He was then jailed for a charge that surely isn’t used that often, especially in the Middle-East, “Assaulting a foreign head of state on an official visit.” The original sentence was for three years, but was reduced to one on an appeal lodged in April.
Despite the attitude towards America and Americans in Iraq, opinion was mixed after the incident. al-Zaidi was viewed as a national hero by some, but others said he had defiled the Arab tradition of honoring guests.
This is an interesting point worth laboring for a moment. The only disapproval from the Iraqi public asked about the situation said they didn’t agree with the gesture because it went against Arab tradition. Not that they disagree because an important member of the international community was insulted, or that the leader of the main contributor to their freedom was insulted.
This illustrates how America is really viewed in Iraq, and it isn’t fondly. Too many mistakes were made, and entirely too many innocent civilians were killed or injured during the conflict. This is what incensed al-Zaidi enough to hurl the shoes in the first place.
While we may sit back with a sense of satisfaction at a job ‘well’ done, the Iraqi’s see it differently. As quite adequately displayed by al-Zaidi in both his actions, and the reception he received upon his release.
