Muntadhar al-Zaidi

Muntadhar al-Zaidi
منتظر الزيدي
Born (1979-01-15) 15 January 1979
Iraq
Residence Beirut, Lebanon
Education University of Baghdad
Communications
Occupation Broadcast journalist
Known for George W. Bush shoeing incident
Notable credit(s) Al-Baghdadia TV

Muntadhar al-Zaidi (Arabic: منتظر الزيدي‎ Muntaẓar az-Zaydī; born 15 January 1979)[a] is an Iraqi broadcast journalist who served as a correspondent for Iraqi-owned, Egyptian-based Al-Baghdadia TV. As of February 2011, al-Zaidi works with a Lebanese TV channel.[1]

On November 16, 2007, al-Zaidi was kidnapped by unknown assailants in Baghdad.[2] He was also previously twice arrested by the United States Armed Forces.[3] On December 14, 2008, al-Zaidi shouted, "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog", and threw his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush during a Baghdad press conference. Al-Zaidi suffered injuries as he was taken into custody and some sources said he was tortured during his initial detention.[4][5] There were calls throughout the Middle East to place the shoes in an Iraqi museum,[6] but the shoes were later destroyed by US and Iraqi security forces.[7][8] Al-Zaidi's shoeing inspired many similar incidents of political protest around the world.[9][10]

Following the incident, Al-Zaidi was represented by the head of the Iraqi Bar Association at trial.[11] On February 20, 2009, al-Zaidi received a 90-minute trial by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq.[12] On March 12, 2009, he was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a foreign head of state during an official visit. On April 7, the sentence was reduced from three years to one year.[13] He was released on 15 September 2009 for good behavior, after serving nine months of the sentence.[14] After his release, Al-Zaidi was treated for injuries and later said he planned to "build orphanages, a children's hospital, and medical and orthopaedic centres offering free treatment and manned by Iraqi doctors and medical staff."[15]

Biography

Muntadhar al-Zaidi was raised in Sadr City, a suburb of Baghdad, Iraq.[16] He began working as a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia TV in 2005. He first became known as a victim of a kidnapping by unknown assailants in November 2007. Al-Zaidi has also been arrested twice by United States armed forces.[2][3] He lives in a two-room apartment within central Baghdad.[17][18] He is of the Shi'a-Muslim faith and also is of Sayyid descent. "One of his best reports was on Zahra, a young Iraqi school girl killed by the occupation forces while en route to school," said Ahmed Alaa, a close friend and colleague of al-Zaidi at al-Baghdadia television who talked to Islam Online. Alaa said al-Zaidi documented the tragedy in his reportage, complete with interviews with her family, neighbors and friends. "This report earned him the respect of many Iraqis and won him many hearts in Iraq," he said. Al-Zaidi once also turned down an offer to work for what he termed "a pro-occupation channel".[19] Friends said al-Zaidi had been "emotionally influenced" by the destruction he'd seen in his coverage of the US bombing of Sadr City.[20] Muzhir al-Khafaji, al-Zaidi's boss at the TV station, describes al-Zaidi as a "proud Arab and an open-minded man." He added, "He has no ties with the former regime. His family was arrested under Saddam's regime."[21] On politics, al-Zaidi said "I’m Iraqi and I’m proud of my country." Friends of al-Zaidi said he utterly rejected the occupation and the civil clashes. They said he believed the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement was a "legalization of the occupation."[22]

Sami Ramadani, a political exile from Saddam's regime and a senior lecturer at London Metropolitan University, wrote in an op-ed for The Guardian that al-Zaidi "reported for al-Baghdadia on the poor and downtrodden victims of the US war. He was first on the scene in Sadr City and wherever people suffered violence or severe deprivation. He not only followed US Apache helicopters' trails of death and destruction, but he was also among the first to report every 'sectarian' atrocity and the bombing of popular market places. He let the victims talk first".[23]

Kidnapping and detention

On Friday morning, November 16, 2007, al-Zaidi was kidnapped on his way to work in central Baghdad. Unknown armed men forced him into a car, where he was beaten until he lost consciousness. The assailants used al-Zaidi's necktie to blindfold him and bound his hands with shoelaces. He was held captive with little food and drink and questioned about his work as a journalist. During his disappearance, al-Zaidi was reported missing by Iraq's Journalistic Freedoms Observatory.[2] On November 18, Reporters Without Borders "voiced deep concern" in a statement about al-Zaidi's detention.[24] No ransom demand was made, and al-Zaidi's kidnappers released him still blindfolded, on to a street three days later around 3 a.m. on Monday, November 19, 2007, after which al-Zaidi's brother picked him up.[2] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees mentioned al-Zaidi's kidnapping in a December 2007 report that listed violent incidents in the media, in particular, incidents targeting journalists in Baghdad. According to the report, "journalists and media workers and other professionals continue to be targets for kidnapping and assassination."[25]

After his kidnapping, al-Zaidi told Reuters; "My release is a miracle. I couldn't believe I was still alive."[2] The editor of Al-Baghdadia TV described the kidnapping as an "act of gangs, because all of Muntadhar's reports are moderate and unbiased."[26] Al-Zaidi has also been arrested twice by the United States armed forces in Iraq.[3] In January 2008, al-Zaidi was detained overnight by US troops as they searched his residence. The soldiers later offered him an apology.[27]

Shoe incident

Al-Zaidi's shoe flying over George Bush's head.

During a December 14, 2008, press conference at the prime minister's palace in Baghdad, Iraq, al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at then-United States President George W. Bush.[28] "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog," yelled al-Zaidi in Arabic as he threw his first shoe towards Bush.[29] "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq," he shouted as he threw his second shoe.[29] Bush ducked twice to avoid being hit by the shoes. Prime Minister Maliki also attempted to catch one of the shoes to protect Bush. Al-Zaidi was pulled to the floor[30] by another journalist,[31] before being grabbed by Prime Minister Maliki's guards, kicked, and rushed out of the room. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino was hit in the face by a microphone boom knocked over by a presidential bodyguard resulting in a black eye.[32]

Bush said some Iraqi reporters had apologized to him. "Thanks for apologizing on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn't bother me." Bush said, "If you want the facts, it's a size 10 shoe that he threw." When asked about the incident by another reporter, Bush said, "It's a way for people to draw attention. I don't know what the guy's cause was. I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."[33] When later asked to reflect on the incident, Bush said, "I didn't have much time to reflect on anything, I was ducking and dodging. I'm not angry with the system. I believe that a free society is emerging, and a free society is necessary for our own security and peace," he added.[34] "I don't think that you can take one guy throwing his shoe as representative of the people of Iraq," said White House Press Secretary Dana Perino.[35]

A fictional depiction of the shoe thrown at President Bush during a press conference in Iraq in 2008.[36][7][8] Photograph taken at the Museum in TriBeCa, New York City.

Al-Zaidi was initially held by the prime minister's guards and was later turned over to the Iraqi army's Baghdad command. The command handed him over to the Iraqi judiciary. Hundreds took to the streets to demand his release.[37] Al-Zaidi could have faced charges of insulting a foreign leader and the Iraqi prime minister. A conviction of these charges could have carried a sentence of up to two years in prison or a small fine, although it would have been unlikely to face the maximum penalty given his newfound "cult status" in the Arab world, according to a Middle-East observer.[38] An Iraqi lawyer stated that al-Zaidi was likely to get at least two years in prison if he was prosecuted.[3] Al-Zaidi went before a judge on December 17, 2008. He declined to be represented by Khalil al-Duleimi, who defended the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein before his execution, and also said he wanted to be represented by an Iraqi lawyer.[39] "I will introduce myself as his lawyer and demand the case be closed and Muntader be released because he did not commit a crime," said Dheyaa al-Saadi, al-Zaidi's lawyer and head of the Iraqi Bar Association. "He only freely expressed himself to the occupier, and he has such a right according to international law."[11] On December 17, 2008, al-Zaidi appeared privately before a judge from within the Green Zone.

Al-Zaidi humanitarian foundation

Following his release, al-Zaidi went to Geneva and announced that he had started creating a humanitarian agency/foundation. The aim of the agency would be to "build orphanages, a children's hospital, and medical and orthopaedic centres offering free treatment and manned by Iraqi doctors and medical staff."[15] His lawyer said that al-Zaidi "hopes to surf on the wave of support he has gained to do some good."[15]

Theatre, film and art

"Bush-Maliki News Conference. Baghdad, December 2008" 2009, by Dmitry Borshch

Mahesh Bhatt produced a play entitled "The Last Salute", directed by Indian director Arvind Gaur and starring Imran Zahid. It was written by Rajesh Kumar and based on Muntadhar al-Zaidi's book. Pooja Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt announced the making of a film based on the play. "Bush-Maliki News Conference. Baghdad, December 2008", a drawing by Dmitry Borshch, has been exhibited at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, DePaul University, Brecht Forum and is included in the Catalog of American Portraits, maintained by the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery (United States).[40][41][42]

2018 Iraqi Election

Zaidi announced in early 2018 his intent to run for the Iraqi council of representatives on Muqtada al-Sadr's Alliance towards Reforms ticket.[43] In an interview with Reuters he stated that "The main real purpose and reason behind my nomination is to get rid of the corrupt, and to expel them from our country".[44] Zaidi has been critical of US and Iranian involvement in Iraq during his campaigning expressing his view that "America and Iran are the reasons for the tension in Iraq," he said. "We have American troops under the name of 'consultants' - we don’t accept their presence in Iraq".[45] After his unsuccessful campaign, Zaidi continued his work as a journalist, urging the Iraqi government to remain calm in the face of the July protests in Basra.

Publications

  • The Last Salute to President Bush, December 2010[46]

See also

Notes

a. ^ Alternative transliterations used in Western media: Muthathar, Muntadhar, Muntadar, Muntazer, Muthathi; al-Zeidi also transliterated as "Zeidi" is an Arabic name, meaning abundance or growth or "one who progresses and makes other people progress."

References

  1. ↑ Banerjee, Debesh (9 February 2011). "Bush shoe-thrower may get Delhi invite to watch himself on stage". Indian Express. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kidnapped Iraqi reporter freed, says no ransom paid". Reuters. 2007-11-19. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-21. "Iraqi TV journalist kidnapped – press group". Reuters. 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2008-12-15. "Iraqi TV station says kidnapped reporter freed in Baghdad". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Faraj, Salam (2008-12-15). "Arabs hail shoe attack as Bush's farewell gift". International News. France 24. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 2008-12-18. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  4. ↑ "Bush shoe-thrower 'tortured'". Al Jazeera. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  5. ↑ Weaver, Matthew (2008-01-19). "Bush shoe protester has been beaten, Iraqi judge says". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  6. ↑ Khaled, Abu Toameh (2008-12-15). "Iraqi who threw shoes at Bush hailed as Arab hero". Middle East. Jerusalem Post.
  7. 1 2 "Iraqi journalist`s shoes destroyed, says judge". Dawn.com. 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  8. 1 2 "Iraqi journalist's shoes destroyed after Bush attack". ABC News Australia. 2008-12-18. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  9. ↑ "Another shoe-throwing journalist surfaces". PressTV. 2008-12-20. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  10. ↑ "A shoe-throwing president?". Folha Online. 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  11. 1 2 "Shoe-throwing reporter headed to court". Top News. United Press International. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  12. ↑ Arraf, Jane (2009-02-20). "Hero or villain? Iraq's shoe thrower faces judgment". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2009-03-12. Zeidi … stood throughout the 90-minute trial in the court building …
  13. ↑ Londoño, Ernesto; Mizher, Qais (April 7, 2009). "Court reduces sentence for Iraqi shoe thrower". Associated Press via Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  14. ↑ "Iraqi shoe-thrower Muntazer al-Zaidi freed from jail". The Times. 15 September 2009.
  15. 1 2 3 Bradley, Simon (2009-10-19). "Iraqi shoe-thrower launches Geneva-based agency". Swissinfo. Archived from the original on 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  16. ↑ Karadsheh, Jomana (2008-12-15). "TV station urges release of shoe-throwing journalist". Asia. CNN. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  17. ↑ Karadsheh, Jomana (2008-12-15). "Shoe-thrower's brother: He wanted to humiliate 'tyrant'". World. CNN. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  18. ↑ "Shoe thrower 'beaten in custody'". Middle East. BBC News. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  19. ↑ Mostaf, Hazem (2008-12-15). "Muntazer Zaidi…Proud Iraqi, US Critic". Asia & Australia. IslamOnline. Archived from the original on 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  20. ↑ Ashton, Adam; Mohammed al Dulaimy (2007-12-19). "Iraqi who threw shoes covered U.S. bombing of Shiite area". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  21. ↑ Wigmore, Barry; Mail Foreign Service (2007-12-17). "Iraqi parliament speaker says he's resigning after legislators argue over 'shoe attack' on Bush". World News. The Mail on Sunday. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  22. ↑ Naim, Hani (2008-12-18). "Muntazer Al-Zaidi as known by the people of Hamra, Beirut". News. Menassat. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  23. ↑ Ramadani, Sami (2008-12-17). "The shoes we longed for". Comment is free. London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  24. ↑ "Al-Baghdadiyah TV journalist kidnapped in central Baghdad". Reporters Without Borders. 2007-01-18. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  25. ↑ "Addendum to UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Iraqi Asylum-Seekers" (PDF). Annex II – List of incidents in Baghdad Governorate targeting specific groups. 3. Journalists. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). December 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
  26. ↑ "Iraqi TV reporter kidnapped in central Baghdad, TV station says". The Jerusalem Post. Associated Press. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  27. ↑ "Profile: Shoe-throwing journalist". Middle East. BBC News. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  28. ↑ Myers, Steven Lee; Alissa J. Rubin (2008-12-14). "Iraqi Journalist Hurls Shoes at Bush and Denounces Him on TV as a 'Dog'". Middle East. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  29. 1 2 "Shoes thrown at Bush on Iraq trip". Middle East. BBC News. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  30. ↑ "Raw Video: Iraqi Journalist Throws Shoe at Bush". Associated Press. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  31. ↑ "Bush Iraqi shoe attack: Why didn't the Secret Service take a loafer for the president?". World News. London: Daily Mail. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  32. ↑ Naughton, Philippe (2008-12-16). "White House spokeswoman Dana Perino shows off 'shoe-venir'". London: The Times. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  33. ↑ "President Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Maliki Sign the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement" (Press release). whitehouse.gov. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  34. ↑ Johnson, Sasha (2008-12-16). "Bush on auto bailout, war in Iraq, shoe-throwing reporter". Politics. CNN. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  35. ↑ "Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino" (Press release). Whitehouse.gov. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  36. ↑ "Zaidi shoes destroyed after Bush attack". PressTV. 2008-12-18. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  37. ↑ Abdul-Zahra, Qassim (2008-12-16). "Shoe-thrower expected to appear before Iraqi judge". World news. Houston Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2008-12-20. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  38. ↑ Rashad, Muhieddin; Yahya Barzanji (2008-12-15). "Family: Shoe thrower hates both US, Iran role". Africa & Middle East. International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  39. ↑ "Shoe-thrower rejects Saddam defender, many other offers". Trend News Agency. 2008-12-17. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  40. ↑ Dmitry Borshch, Catalog of American Portraits (CAP), National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
  41. ↑ Literary scholar John Maynard and artist Dmitry Borshch in conversation on art, Russian American Cultural Center on Artsy
  42. ↑ Saatchi Gallery, Russian American Cultural Center Of New York
  43. ↑ "Muntader al-Zaidi: Iraq shoe-thrower standing for parliament". BBC. 2018-05-02. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  44. ↑ "Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at Bush stands for parliament". reuters. 2018-05-11. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  45. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Iraqi shoe-thrower promises to boot corruption out of politics as MP". Middle East Eye. 2018-05-11. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  46. ↑ "Iraqi shoe thrower signs his first book in Beirut". Yahoo!. 2010-12-14. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  47. "Iraq shoe thrower Zaidi faces Paris shoe-ing". BBC News. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2009-12-06.

Media related to Muntadhar al-Zaidi at Wikimedia Commons

  • "Muntadhar al-Zaidi collected news and commentary". The New York Times.
  • Shoe Thrower Jailed for Attack on Bush by Tim Albone, The National, March 13, 2009
  • Where's al-Zaidi's Pulitzer ? by John Ross, Counterpunch, December 24, 2008
  • Shoe-thrower Journalist, A Hero to Many
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