Iraq court jails Bush shoe-thrower for 3 years

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The Iraqi journalist who shot to fame for hurling his shoes at former US president George W Bush was jailed for three years on Thursday, stirring outrage from his family and supporters.
Muntazer al-Zaidi, a 30-year-old television reporter, had pleaded not guilty at the Iraq Central Criminal Court to assaulting 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,� 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 said he had taken into consideration that Zaidi is young and it was his first offence, the defence lawyers said.
When the judge asked 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 Zaidi was political.
The family said they would not only appeal but also press ahead with plans to bring torture charges against Bush, Maliki and his bodyguards at a human rights court abroad.