Iraqi Shoe-Thrower to Appear in Court

A criminal court judge will decide whether there is sufficient cause to try the reporter, Muntader al-Zaidi, 29, who has become a folk hero in much of the Arab world for taking off his shoes and hurling them one after the other at Mr. Bush during a news conference in Baghdad on Sunday evening with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.

The senior lawyer, Dheyaa Saadi, head of the Union of Lawyers in Iraq and one of the country’s most high-profile lawyers, said that he had volunteered to defend Mr. Zaidi if the judge elects to detain him pending further court hearings.

“I will introduce myself as his lawyer and demand the case be closed and Muntader be released because he did not commit a crime,” said Mr. Saadi. “He only freely expressed himself to the occupier, and he has such a right according to international law.”

During the joint news conference with Mr. Bush and Mr. Maliki on Sunday evening in Baghdad’s Green Zone, Mr. Zaidi, a reporter for Al-Baghdadia, a satellite television network, rose from his seat and threw one of his shoes at Mr. Bush’s head. He shouted: “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!”

Mr. Bush ducked and the shoe missed him. Moments later, Mr. al-Zaidi threw his other shoe, this time shouting, “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq!” The shoe struck the wall behind Mr. Bush.

Under Iraqi law, Mr. Zaidi could face up to seven years in prison for the crime of initiating an aggressive act against a head of a foreign state on an official visit.

Amid conflicting news reports, Mr. Zaidi’s condition and his treatment by guards since his detention on Sunday remain uncertain.

After he threw the shoes, Mr. Zaidi was subdued by a fellow journalist and then beaten by members of the prime minister’s security detail, who hauled him out of the room in his white socks. Mr. Zaidi’s cries could be heard from a nearby room as the news conference continued.

According to The Associated Press, the Al-Baghdadia network reported that he had been “seriously injured” during his detention and called on the government to allow lawyers and the Iraqi Red Crescent to visit him. But later one of his brothers said on Al-Baghdadia that he had spoken by telephone with Mr. Zaidi and he told him, “Thank God, I am in good health,” The A.P. reported.

seven years for throwing a shoe??? I think this is a bit much.