Iraqi ‘Shoe-Throwing’ Journalist’s Trial Delayed Yet Again

After Two Months Waiting for Trial, Judge Adjourns Until March 12

by Jason Ditz, February 19, 2009

Muntadar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who made headlines worldwide for throwing his shoes at then-President George W. Bush, has had an interesting two months: he went from obscure journalist to international folk-hero, spent time in the hospital for injuries suffered during his arrest, was reportedly tortured, and was held completely incommunicado for nearly a month.

But mostly he’s waited… waited to see his family, waited to find out what he would be charged with, waited for his trial to begin. The court delayed his trial in December, He was in court today amid much fanfare, but once again, the judge adjourned the trial until next month – March 12 being the new date.

Zeidi could face several years in prison for throwing the shoes, with a key point in his trial being whether the shoes were a political protest against the American president or a serious attempt to assassinate him. Zeidi claims it was the former, that he was enraged by the “cold and spiritless smile” of President Bush and wanted to restore the pride of Iraqis through protest i.e. shoes.

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