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| Iraq |
| Iraq: Cleric calls for release of Bush 'shoe-thrower' |
| 2009-03-16 |
| (AKI) - A prominent Shia Iraqi cleric has called for the release of Iraqi journalist Montazer al-Zaidi, a day after he was sentenced to three years in jail for throwing his shoes at former United States president George W. Bush. Sheik Suhail al-Iqabi said the sentence against al-Zaidi was "a verdict against the Iraqi people who reject the American occupation." Al-Iqabi, who supports hardline Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, made the remarks during Friday prayers in Baghdad's Sadr City. On Thursday, Iraq's Criminal High Court invoked article 223 of the Iraqi Constitution and sentenced al-Zaidi for the shoe-throwing incident that occurred last December. The article provides for punishment of between three and 15 years in prison for assaulting a foreign leader on an official visit, al-Birqadar said. However, al-Zaidi's sentence will not be final unless it is ratified by the Court of Cassation which has a month to uphold or amend the verdict. On Thursday, the Iraqi Journalists' Syndicate and the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory appealed to Iraqi president Jalal Talabani and prime minister Nouri al-Maliki to pardon al-Zaidi. The incident in which al-Zaidi also hurled insults at Bush, was broadcast around the world. Iraqi officials have described it as shameful. Al-Zaidi threw his first shoe at Bush as he yelled "This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog," As he threw his second shoe, he said: "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." As Bush avoided the shoes, al-Zaidi was quickly wrestled to the ground by security guards. |
| Posted by: |
| #2 When the story quiets down (next month, if I correctly call the American public attention span.), this Cleric of the Comix will get his wish.... |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2009-03-16 08:38 |
| #1 Shoot the cleric. |
| Posted by: gorb 2009-03-16 01:52 |