Muntazer al-Zaidi, Iraq Shoe-Thrower Journalist, Detained For Supporting Protests

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BAGHDAD (Reuters) -An Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former U.S. President George W. Bush was arrested by security forces in Baghdad Thursday for encouraging people to rally for better services.

A relative of Muntazer al-Zaidi said the reporter was detained in the northern Adhamiya district whilst voicing his support for a mass demonstration expected to be held Friday.

Iraqis have been protesting for weeks against shortages of food, power and jobs, and against corruption as anti-government demonstration sweep across the Arab world.

"Security forces in Adhamiya district arrested Muntazer Zaidi and his brother Durgam. We don't know where they took them," Hashim al-Iraqi, a relative of Zaidi, told Reuters.

A security source confirmed Zaidi had been detained for "inciting people" to take part in protests.

Little-known Shi'ite reporter Zaidi, said to have harbored anger against Bush for the thousands of Iraqis who died after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, shot to fame in 2008 when he called Bush a "dog" in Arabic and threw his shoes at him during a news conference in Iraq.

Throwing shoes at someone is one of the worst insults in the Arab world.

(Reporting by Muhanad Mohammed; Writing by Serena Chaudhry)

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Comments

[AZreb]

08:53 AM on 02/25/2011

No one knows where he is. One good guess is in one of Maliki's secret prisons, don't you think? Wonder what the Iraqis think of their "democracy" now?

According to an article in the WaPo this morning (sometimes they do get something right, but who knows about this one) al Sadr is asking the protestors to hold off for 6 months. Since al Sadr has many followers and really, really does not want the US in Iraq, it makes one wonder who al Sadr will be meeting with and what will happen in 6 months if he throws in with the protestors.

[FACTISFACT]

08:07 AM on 02/25/2011

Now get prepared to face the music that you have to dance with the tune it will play. May be you had friends like your above mentioned colleagues in such doing such horrific activities as they had and will always have as their controlling power to save you as they save them evey time even if they wipe out the entire world.

Yeah! Three very reliable friends can save you if they want to otherwise none. These three are India, Russia, and China. Try to keep in touch there in another one the 100% most reliable you're Friend Israel it can make night in to day and day into night by its super natural power.

Well, was there any possibility of his doing the same mischief with Maliki. May be, who among the Politicians at home and abroad has the courage to deny his ability and get a shoe throw in future from him or from his followers as did !0% of Pakistan and the Ex-PM of UK after EX-US President.

However, it is good to have taken him into custody to avoid the embarrassments internationally. In any case inside or outside he will get his publicity share may be he dose the action when he comes out with a new model of shoes, who will deny.

[JayMonaco]

08:36 AM on 02/25/2011

Does anybody understand what this means?

[AZreb]

08:43 AM on 02/25/2011

Even after two cups of coffee, I am still confused - heading for a third cup.

[Progressneeded]

11:04 AM on 02/25/2011

I am not even sure if it is written in English!

[Coronakid]

07:17 AM on 02/25/2011

Well the billions of dollars we paid contractors to rebuild vital services in Iraq was not used for the intended purpose. The people in Iraq are protesting because of the lack of electricity, and fresh water, and better living conditions. I guess it would lead one to wonder just what was the billions of reconstruction dollars spent on. Another example of the bushies dislike for oversight.

[CommonWealth-SinglePayer]

06:01 AM on 02/25/2011

6am Friday, reports of people protesting in Bagdad, Riot Police. Rumour that Basara has fallen to the protesters.

[ammsamm]

05:53 AM on 02/25/2011

Do Americans really need any more proof that their "War for Democracy" was a farce, and that all these deaths, both Iraqi and American, were for nothing.

Many Americans were saying here on HP that Iraqis would not demonstrate because they already have a democracy. Funny that the Iraqis themselves don't believe that. Maybe Americans need to study up on what real democracy means before pretending to export it elsewhere.

[chadponie]

09:40 AM on 02/25/2011

Maybe you can enlighten us all as to what Democracy means? Can't wait to hear it from such a brilliant mind as yours.

[ammsamm]

10:04 AM on 02/25/2011

Democracy American - style means illegally invading countries, torturing and killing and mutilating innocent civilians, extraordinary renditions, secret prisons, supporting dictators all over the world, and being the only country in the world too scared to stand up to Israel.

Surely you already knew that, cowboy.....

[UncleSquinky]

03:36 AM on 02/25/2011

And the US is giving money to this country, which it claims is a democracy? What a joke. Just more funding of incompetent, corrupt, despotic Middle Eastern governments by the US. What's new?

[AZreb]

08:47 AM on 02/25/2011

But - but - but we gave them "democracy", didn't we? Now trying to do the same thing in Afghanistan by supporting a corrupt government - but then we have also supported autocrats, dictators and kings.

Gotta spread the wealth around - whoops - the wealth has now disappeared. Next step?

[UncleSquinky]

03:20 AM on 02/25/2011

Man, how can I donate shoes to this guy and what size does he wear?

[chadponie]

09:41 AM on 02/25/2011

I already sent him my steel-toed boots.

[Aristofaness]

02:28 AM on 02/25/2011

Keep throwing shoes to bad leaders!!!, you are an example to follow, I hope corruption respect you,

[Blackorpheus]

02:11 AM on 02/25/2011

Indisputably my favorite shoe-thrower. Set him free.

[Cougar29]

11:16 PM on 02/24/2011

Left-wing fantasy guy got arrested... Good..

[Progressneeded]

11:07 AM on 02/25/2011

So you like seeing Cheney in those lying positions?

[p456]

10:55 PM on 02/24/2011

He's a hero set him free.

[pierre F Lherisson]

10:31 PM on 02/24/2011

In the next seven or ten decades Mr.Muntazer al-Zaidi will be listed among the heroes in Iraq history.

[Neils60]

09:13 PM on 02/24/2011

al-Zaidi was only detained because prior to throwing his shoes at Bush, he had a habit of throwing his feces at others with whom he had a dispute. Evidently, the government was concerned that he'd regress to his former disgusting habit.

[greatness891]

09:49 PM on 02/24/2011

No , He got arrested because resembles a person who had no affiliation with any country other than Iraq.
proven by the fact he was arrested by Iraqi police.
so people trust him and he is of public power.

[Progressneeded]

11:09 AM on 02/25/2011

So, it is ok for you to throw death upon the Iraqi people but good forbid one of them throws a shoe back?

[LiberalOutlaw]

08:45 PM on 02/24/2011

The power to protest is a beautiful thing...one that we take for granted in the US.

This man is a hero.

[Ronni01]

08:50 PM on 02/24/2011

I think we're getting on board slowly but surely.

[Nick McKinney]

08:36 PM on 02/24/2011

Al-Zaidi's role in the story of Iraq continues. A good summary of the shoe story here: http://www.ifc.com/videos/episode-202-the-farewell-kiss.php

Wishing him a safe passage through his latest run in with the powers that be...