Iraqi court jails Bush shoe-thrower

An Iraqi journalist who shot to fame for hurling his shoes at former US President George W. Bush was jailed for three years yesterday, stirring outrage from his family and supporters. Muntazer al-Zaidi, a 30-year-old television reporter, had pleaded not guilty at the Iraqi Central Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Bush during his farewell visit to Iraq last December.

"He was sentenced to three years in jail," defence lawyer Yahia Attabi said outside the Baghdad court.

The defendant shouted: "Iraq, long live Iraq," after the verdict was read out, the lawyer told AFP.

"We expected the decision because under the Iraqi criminal code he was charged with assaulting a foreign leader on an official visit," Dr Attabi said, adding, "We will appeal this decision."

There was standing room only at the courtroom on the edge of Baghdad's high security Green Zone as some 200 family members, reporters and lawyers crowded in. The judge later cleared the court before returning his verdict.

Judge Abdulamir Hassan al-Rubaie said he had taken into consideration that Mr Zaidi is young and it was his first offence, the defence lawyers said.

Shoe-hurling is considered an especially grave insult in the Arab and Muslim world and Mr Zaidi had risked up to 15 years in jail on the charge of aggression against a foreign head of state. The former President, deeply unpopular in the Arab world for ordering the 2003 invasion of Iraq, was at a globally-televised media conference with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki when Mr Zaidi let rip with his shoes. Mr Bush managed to duck just in time.

When the judge asked Mr Zaidi if he was innocent, the journalist responded: "Yes, my reaction was natural, just like any Iraqi (would have done)."

After the verdict, his 25-strong defence team emerged from the courtroom to scenes of chaos. Several family members screamed: "It's an American court... sons of dogs."

One of his brothers, Uday, said the decision to jail Mr Zaidi was political.

"This is a political court. Muntazer is being treated like a prisoner of war. He is not a normal prisoner ... This decision has been taken by the prime minister's office."

The family said they would not only appeal but also press ahead with plans to bring torture charges against Mr Bush, Mr Maliki and his bodyguards at a human rights court abroad. A Syrian lawyer told AFP she was preparing to file a complaint in Belgium or Spain.

Wearing a light-brown suit and thin-framed glasses, the journalist had been brought into a packed courtroom under a heavy police escort.

Chief defence lawyer Ehiya al-Sadi had argued that his client's motives were "honourable".

"He was only expressing his feelings. What he could see was the blood of Iraqis at his feet when he watched the US President speaking about his achievements in Iraq."

He also argued that although Iraqi law considered it an attack on a visiting head of state, "his throwing of the shoe did not cause any injury or damage ... His goal was to insult Bush for the pain Iraqis have suffered."

Mr Zaidi had already spent three months behind bars, the lawyer stressed.

The trial opened on February 19 but was adjourned to determine the nature of Mr Bush's December 14 visit. The judge yesterday announced that government ministers had declared it official.

The Baghdadia television reporter told the court last month that he had been outraged and was unable to control his emotions when Mr Bush started speaking to the media.

"I had the feeling that the blood of innocent people was dropping on my feet during the time that he was smiling and coming to say bye-bye to Iraq with a dinner.

"So I took the first shoe and threw it but it did not hit him. Then spontaneously I took the second shoe but it did not hit him either. I was not trying to kill the commander of the occupation forces of Iraq."

As well as throwing the shoe, Mr Zaidi shouted: "It is the farewell kiss, you dog," before security forces wrestled him to the ground. Mr Zaidi said he had been beaten and tortured in custody.