Muntadher al-Zaidi, the Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at President Bush, has been sentenced to three years and six months over the incident which occurred in December; charged on attempted assault against a visiting head of state. Al-Zaidi stated in court that his actions had been “natural, just like any Iraqi’s” would have been when confronted with a man who led a nation who had invaded their country.

Shoe throwing is considered to be one of the gravest of insults in the Arab world. President Bush however, brushed off the event, encouraging freedom of speech in the state. Many people in the Arab world consider Mr. al-Zaidi a hero. Al-Zaidi said,

“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. So I took the first shoe and threw it but it did not hit him. Then spontaneously I took the second shoe but it did not hit him either. I was not trying to kill the commander of the occupation forces of Iraq.”

The Judge stated that he had taken into consideration the fact the Mr. al-Zaidi was young and that this was his first offense. Mr. al-Zaidi’s family has stated they will appeal the ruling, along with the help of his 25 strong defense team.

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