Iraq shoe thrower's jail term cut

[FourScore]

Iraq shoe thrower's jail term cut

The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at former US President George W Bush has had his sentence cut from three years to one year on appeal.

Muntadar al-Zaidi's lawyer argued that the charge should be changed from assault to insulting a foreign leader.

The judge agreed and reduced the term in line with the less serious offence.

An official for the court said the presiding judge had also taken into account the fact that Zaidi had no prior criminal history.

"The appeal court issued its decision today... taking into consideration that he is still young and doesn't have any previous convictions," said Abdul Sattar al-Birqdar, the spokesman for the Iraqi judicial council...

SNIP

...Shoe hurling is a grave insult in Arab culture...

SNIP

..Zaidi, of al-Baghdadiya TV, called Mr Bush "a dog" and threw his shoes as a "farewell kiss" from Iraqis who had been killed, orphaned or widowed since the US-led invasion.

"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," Zaidi said during his trial in March.

Hero or criminal?

He was overpowered and arrested and his actions were condemned by the Iraqi government as "shameful".

But the shoe attack, at a globally televised news conference, was celebrated across the world by critics of the outgoing US president, who ordered the 2003 invasion of the Iraq.

An opinion poll carried out for the BBC and ABC - the full results of which appear next Monday - suggested 62% of the Iraqis polled considered Zaidi a "hero".

Some 24% of the sample said they viewed him as "criminal", while 10% thought he was a hero and criminal equally.

Taking into account pre-trial custody and the customary reductions of sentences, Zaidi is set to be released on 14 September.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7988035.stm

[aquart]

I'm going with "hero," myself.

[EFerrari]

1. Great news. Maybe they'll have him out even sooner.

:applause:

[malaise]

2. The national hero of Iraq

and the world. He had no idea of the symbolism of that gesture.

[niyad]

3. I keep thinking they will release him shortly, when nobody is paying attention.

[Democracyinkind]

4. I'm working to get together a petition to the Swiss Government -

it seems in the first days after his arrest he has asked Switzerland for political asylum.
If he still wishes to do this when he is freed he will find a determined grassroots campaign to enable exactly that.

[gratuitous]

5. His sentence would have been commuted entirely

If he'd nailed the war criminal with one of those size 10s.

[lucretia54]

6. "Did I ever tell you you're my hero?"

[FourScore]

10. Hi, lucretia54!

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[uppityperson]

7. Good, k&r

[JuniperLea]

8. I vote hero...

:applause:

When too few had the fortitude to stand up to the murderous freak, this man showed us all that our feelings mattered!

[Raine]

9. TERRIFIC

really he deserves an award. :thumbsup:

[roody]

11. A brave man.