FUCK THE POLICE
911 EVERY DAY
He did what was right. A second in prison would be too much.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/world/middleeast/19shoe.html?_r=2
Iraqi Shoe-Hurling Journalist Said to Ask for Pardon
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By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS and ATHEER KAKAN
Published: December 18, 2008
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi television journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush during a news conference this week has asked the Iraqi prime minister for a pardon, an Iraqi government official said on Thursday.
The statement could not immediately be confirmed with the family or lawyers of the reporter, Muntader al-Zaidi.
The government spokesman, Yassin Majid, said that the reporter wrote to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki apologizing for the incident and calling it an “ugly action.”
“He asked the prime minister to pardon him as a son asks his father for forgiveness,” Mr. Majid said.
The tone of the comments by the prime minister’s office suggested Mr. Maliki might be considering lenient treatment of the journalist, who is still in custody.
In a news conference in Baghdad on Sunday held by Mr. Bush and Mr. Maliki, Mr. Zaidi rose abruptly as Mr. Bush was speaking, reared his right arm and fired a shoe at the president’s head while shouting in Arabic: “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!”
Mr. Bush deftly ducked and the shoe narrowly missed him. A few seconds later, the journalist tossed his other shoe, again with great force, this time shouting, “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq!” Again, the shoe sailed over the president’s head.
Mr. Zaidi was subdued by a fellow journalist and then beaten by members of the prime minister’s security detail.
On Wednesday, a session of the Iraqi Parliament in Baghdad erupted in an uproar as lawmakers clashed over how to respond to the continuing detention of Mr. Zaidi, 29.
As Parliament began to discuss legislation on the withdrawal from Iraq of armed forces from nations other than the United States, a group of lawmakers demanded that the legislature instead take up the issue of Mr. Zaidi.
Some in Parliament say the government should release Mr. Zaidi immediately, while others say the judiciary should decide his fate.
How badly injured Mr. Zaidi was by members of the prime minister’s security detail is not clear. He has not appeared in public since his arrest, and his family members and his legal representatives say they have not been permitted to visit him. On Wednesday, Mr. Zaidi was scheduled to appear before a judge, but it was not immediately clear whether that happened.
Dhiya al-Saadi, one of Mr. Zaidi’s lawyers, said Wednesday that he was not sure whether Mr. Zaidi had appeared before a judge. As part of the Iraqi legal system, a judge typically determines whether bringing formal charges against a suspect is warranted, criminal lawyers in Iraq said.
Mr. Zaidi faces up to seven years in prison if he is charged with and convicted of offending the head of a foreign state.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/world/middleeast/19shoe.html?_r=2
Iraqi Shoe-Hurling Journalist Said to Ask for Pardon
Article Tools Sponsored By
By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS and ATHEER KAKAN
Published: December 18, 2008
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi television journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush during a news conference this week has asked the Iraqi prime minister for a pardon, an Iraqi government official said on Thursday.
The statement could not immediately be confirmed with the family or lawyers of the reporter, Muntader al-Zaidi.
The government spokesman, Yassin Majid, said that the reporter wrote to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki apologizing for the incident and calling it an “ugly action.”
“He asked the prime minister to pardon him as a son asks his father for forgiveness,” Mr. Majid said.
The tone of the comments by the prime minister’s office suggested Mr. Maliki might be considering lenient treatment of the journalist, who is still in custody.
In a news conference in Baghdad on Sunday held by Mr. Bush and Mr. Maliki, Mr. Zaidi rose abruptly as Mr. Bush was speaking, reared his right arm and fired a shoe at the president’s head while shouting in Arabic: “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!”
Mr. Bush deftly ducked and the shoe narrowly missed him. A few seconds later, the journalist tossed his other shoe, again with great force, this time shouting, “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq!” Again, the shoe sailed over the president’s head.
Mr. Zaidi was subdued by a fellow journalist and then beaten by members of the prime minister’s security detail.
On Wednesday, a session of the Iraqi Parliament in Baghdad erupted in an uproar as lawmakers clashed over how to respond to the continuing detention of Mr. Zaidi, 29.
As Parliament began to discuss legislation on the withdrawal from Iraq of armed forces from nations other than the United States, a group of lawmakers demanded that the legislature instead take up the issue of Mr. Zaidi.
Some in Parliament say the government should release Mr. Zaidi immediately, while others say the judiciary should decide his fate.
How badly injured Mr. Zaidi was by members of the prime minister’s security detail is not clear. He has not appeared in public since his arrest, and his family members and his legal representatives say they have not been permitted to visit him. On Wednesday, Mr. Zaidi was scheduled to appear before a judge, but it was not immediately clear whether that happened.
Dhiya al-Saadi, one of Mr. Zaidi’s lawyers, said Wednesday that he was not sure whether Mr. Zaidi had appeared before a judge. As part of the Iraqi legal system, a judge typically determines whether bringing formal charges against a suspect is warranted, criminal lawyers in Iraq said.
Mr. Zaidi faces up to seven years in prison if he is charged with and convicted of offending the head of a foreign state.
