Iraqi Shoe-Hurling Journalist Said to Ask for Pardon
By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS and ATHEER KAKAN

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.

If/When He Does Get a Pardon, He's Got a Car Waiting!

Bahraini businessman and social worker Quresh Khan Buneeri wants to gift his six-door Mercedes to Muntazer Al Zaidi.

What??? Gimme a shoe!

Your request has been duly forwarded to Imelda Marcos.


The immediate response for you is this: "Thank you for your interest; you will get what's coming to you"

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

"every single one of us has been wanting to do for a long time".

What a joke. Does anybody think that life under Saddam was better? Someone guess how many bullets that idiot would have had in his head within 5 seconds of throwing a shoe at Saddam.

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MB-less

For a new Mercedes? If I had ONLY KNOWN!

I guess it depends on if you were a victim of fighting between US forces and rebels or not!

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

You need to post that question to a forum populated by Iraqis.

Yeah, that's what I say.

Ask the losing side what they think about losing. I'm just guessin' here, but I bet they don't like it.

Emmerich seems to disagree.

I think the answer to that question is yes. Iraqis have been reported to have said so.

That question aside, do you disagree with the statement that if he had done that to Saddam, he would have likely been tortured and killed?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Here we go again...

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

I do not disagree with that statement.

Technically I imagine here in the states he could be charged with attempted assault. I am not sure if missing makes much of a difference to the legal system.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.