1. Overview
Muntadhar al-Zaidi, born on January 15, 1979, is an Iraqi broadcast journalist who gained international notoriety on December 14, 2008, for throwing his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad. This act, a profound insult in Arab culture, was a symbolic protest against the Iraq War and its devastating impact on the Iraqi people, particularly the countless widows, orphans, and children. Al-Zaidi's action immediately transformed him into a controversial figure, hailed as a hero by many in the Arab world and among anti-war activists, while facing legal repercussions in Iraq. His life and career, marked by prior arrests and a kidnapping, reflect a deep engagement with the human suffering caused by the conflict, culminating in a protest that resonated globally and inspired similar acts of defiance.
2. Early Life and Background
Muntadhar al-Zaidi was born on January 15, 1979. He grew up in Sadr City, a suburb of Baghdad, Iraq. He pursued his higher education at Baghdad University, where he studied journalism. Al-Zaidi is a Shia Muslim and is also of Sayyid descent. His early life experiences, including living in a modest two-room apartment in central Baghdad, shaped his perspectives on the socio-political landscape of Iraq.
3. Journalism Career
Muntadhar al-Zaidi began his professional career as a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia TV in 2005, an Iraqi-owned, Egyptian-based television station which was later barred in Iraq in 2014. His reporting primarily focused on highlighting the severe human suffering caused by the Iraq War, meticulously documenting the plight of war victims, including widows, orphans, and children. A notable example of his work was a report on Zahra, a young Iraqi schoolgirl killed by occupation forces on her way to school, which earned him significant respect among Iraqis. Al-Zaidi was known for his strong anti-occupation stance, even turning down an offer to work for what he termed a "pro-occupation channel." Friends noted that he was deeply affected by the destruction he witnessed, particularly during the U.S. bombing of Sadr City. He viewed the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement as a "legalization of the occupation."
Al-Zaidi's career was not without personal risk. On November 16, 2007, he was kidnapped by unknown armed assailants in central Baghdad while on his way to work. He was forced into a car, beaten until he lost consciousness, blindfolded with his necktie, and had his hands bound with shoelaces. During his captivity, he was held with minimal food and drink and interrogated about his journalistic work. His disappearance prompted deep concern from organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and was highlighted in a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees report on violence against journalists in Baghdad. After three days, he was released, still blindfolded, onto a street in the early morning of November 19, 2007. He described his release as a "miracle." The editor of Al-Baghdadia TV characterized the kidnapping as an "act of gangs," emphasizing that al-Zaidi's reports were always moderate and unbiased.
In addition to the kidnapping, al-Zaidi was arrested twice by the United States Armed Forces in Iraq. In January 2008, U.S. troops detained him overnight during a search of his residence, later offering him an apology. As of February 2011, al-Zaidi continued his media work with a Lebanese TV channel.
4. The Bush Shoe Incident
The shoe-throwing incident involving Muntadhar al-Zaidi and U.S. President George W. Bush became a globally recognized act of political protest.
4.1. Context and Event
On December 14, 2008, during a joint press conference held at the Prime Minister's palace in Baghdad, Iraq, Muntadhar al-Zaidi suddenly stood up and threw both of his shoes at then-United States President George W. Bush. As he hurled his first shoe, al-Zaidi shouted in Arabic, "{{lang|ar|هذه قبلة الوداع من الشعب العراقي أيها الكلب|Hādhī qublat al-wadāʿ min ash-shaʿb al-ʿIrāqī ayyuhā al-kalb!|This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog!}}". He followed with his second shoe, yelling, "{{lang|ar|هذه للأرامل والأيتام وكل الذين قتلوا في العراق|Hādhī lil-arāmil wal-aytām wa-kull alladhīna qutilū fī al-ʿIrāq!|This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq!}}". President Bush quickly ducked twice, successfully avoiding both projectiles. When asked about the incident, President Bush remarked, "This is one way people want to get attention. I do not know what his intention was. I did not feel threatened at all." Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, attempted to intercept one of the shoes to protect Bush. Al-Zaidi was then pulled to the floor by security personnel, kicked, and forcibly removed from the room, continuing to shout insults.
4.2. Immediate Aftermath
Immediately following the incident, al-Zaidi was initially detained by the Prime Minister's guards before being transferred to the Iraqi army's Baghdad command, and subsequently handed over to the Iraqi judiciary. During his initial detention, al-Zaidi sustained physical injuries, and some reports claimed he was subjected to torture, including losing a front tooth. He later vowed to publicly name the government and army officials responsible for his alleged torture.
The act of throwing shoes is considered an extreme form of insult and disrespect in Arab culture and Islamic culture, where showing the sole of a shoe or throwing it at someone is deeply offensive. The shoes themselves were later destroyed by U.S. and Iraqi security forces, despite calls from across the Middle East to preserve them in an Iraqi museum.
4.3. International Reactions and Media Coverage
The shoe-throwing incident garnered immediate and widespread international media coverage, sparking diverse reactions globally. In the United States, media outlets such as The Washington Post reported that Bush's Iraq visit had been "ruined," while The New York Times described the event as a highly symbolic representation of the mixed public sentiment towards Bush in Iraq, given his role in overthrowing Saddam Hussein and bringing a different form of freedom.
Conversely, in the Arab world and among anti-war activists worldwide, al-Zaidi was widely celebrated as a hero. Protests erupted in Iraq and other countries, demanding his release. Notably, the charity run by Muammar al-Gaddafi's daughter awarded him a prize for his courage. His actions inspired numerous similar political protests globally. For example, an internet game based on the incident gained popularity, and in Iran, students staged a demonstration where they threw shoes at an effigy of President Bush. Chinese online communities also expressed strong admiration for al-Zaidi's defiance. Even Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez reportedly found the incident amusing.
In a show of support, a giant bronze shoe statue honoring al-Zaidi was erected in Tikrit, Iraq, at a facility supporting children who lost parents due to U.S. military actions. However, it was removed just two days after its public unveiling by order of the Salah ad Din provincial governor.
Initially, a letter attributed to al-Zaidi was sent to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, expressing regret for his actions and seeking leniency, with some reports suggesting he admitted to being coerced by a prominent militant. However, al-Zaidi's family quickly refuted this, claiming the apology letter was forcibly obtained through torture. After his release, al-Zaidi himself confirmed that he never regretted throwing his shoes at President Bush.
5. Legal Proceedings and Imprisonment
Following the shoe-throwing incident, Muntadhar al-Zaidi faced immediate legal consequences. He was charged with assaulting a foreign head of state during an official visit and insulting a foreign leader and the Iraqi Prime Minister. A conviction for these charges could have resulted in a sentence of up to two years in prison or a fine, though a maximum penalty was considered unlikely given his burgeoning status in the Arab world.
His trial took place on February 20, 2009, at the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. Al-Zaidi was represented by Dheyaa al-Saadi, the head of the Iraqi Bar Association, who argued that al-Zaidi had not committed a crime but had merely exercised his right to free expression against an occupier under international law. Al-Zaidi notably declined to be represented by Khalil al-Duleimi, who had previously defended Saddam Hussein.
On March 12, 2009, al-Zaidi was initially sentenced to three years in prison. However, on April 7, 2009, an appeals court reduced his sentence to one year, citing his motivation, youth, and lack of prior criminal record, as well as his good behavior during detention. He was ultimately released on September 15, 2009, after serving nine months of his reduced sentence.
Upon his release, al-Zaidi received medical treatment for injuries he claimed to have sustained in prison. He publicly stated his intention to reveal the names of senior government and army officials whom he accused of torturing him during his detention.
6. Post-Release Activities
After his release from prison on September 15, 2009, Muntadhar al-Zaidi embarked on various activities, including humanitarian work and continued media engagement.
He traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, where he announced the establishment of a humanitarian agency or foundation. The primary goal of this initiative was to "build orphanages, a children's hospital, and medical and orthopaedic centres offering free treatment and manned by Iraqi doctors and medical staff." His lawyer noted that al-Zaidi hoped to leverage the widespread support he had garnered to achieve positive societal impact.
Al-Zaidi continued his career in media, working with a Lebanese television channel as of February 2011. Notably, his former employer, Al-Baghdadia TV, had continued to pay his salary throughout his imprisonment and had also arranged housing for him in Baghdad, underscoring the high regard in which he was held by the station.
Upon his release, al-Zaidi declared, "I am free again, but my homeland is still like a prison." He also stated, "I am not a hero; I just want to humiliate Bush for the injustice we are experiencing."
In a peculiar turn of events, on December 1, 2009, during a press conference he held in Paris to discuss his activities for Iraqi war victims, al-Zaidi himself became the target of a shoe-throwing incident. An Iraqi individual, who identified as a journalist, threw a shoe at him. The projectile missed al-Zaidi. French media reported that the assailant supported the Bush administration's Iraq policy and accused al-Zaidi of sympathizing with totalitarianism.
Despite the challenges and criticisms, al-Zaidi maintained his stance, reiterating in a 2023 interview with Reuters that he never regretted throwing his shoes at President Bush.
7. Political Activities
In early 2018, Muntadhar al-Zaidi announced his intention to run for a seat in the Iraqi Council of Representatives during the Iraqi parliamentary election, 2018. He joined the Alliance towards Reforms ticket, a coalition led by the influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, which also included the Iraqi Communist Party.
Al-Zaidi's campaign platform was primarily centered on combating corruption within Iraq and criticizing foreign interference. He explicitly stated his main objective was "to get rid of the corrupt, and to expel them from our country." He was vocal in his criticism of both U.S. and Iranian involvement in Iraq, asserting that "America and Iran are the reasons for the tension in Iraq." Specifically regarding U.S. presence, he argued, "We have American troops under the name of 'consultants' - we don't accept their presence in Iraq."
Despite his prominent public profile, al-Zaidi's electoral bid was ultimately unsuccessful.
8. Publications
Muntadhar al-Zaidi has authored at least one notable work:
- The Last Salute to President Bush, published in 2010.
9. Evaluation and Impact
Muntadhar al-Zaidi's act of throwing shoes at President George W. Bush transcended a simple protest, becoming a powerful symbol of resistance and defiance against the Iraq War and perceived foreign occupation. His action resonated deeply across the Arab world and among global anti-war movements, where he was widely hailed as a hero for expressing the anger and frustration of many Iraqis who had suffered under the conflict. The incident inspired numerous similar acts of political protest worldwide, demonstrating its significant symbolic power.
Al-Zaidi's actions contributed significantly to the public discourse surrounding the Iraq War, drawing international attention to the human cost of the conflict, particularly the plight of Iraqi civilians, widows, and orphans. His direct and visceral protest highlighted the deep-seated resentment towards the U.S. presence in Iraq and challenged the narrative of a liberated nation.
However, his methods also drew criticism. Some commentators argued that throwing shoes constituted an irrational act of violence that transcended the boundaries of legitimate freedom of expression. They suggested that such an act reflected psychological frustration and despair rather than a constructive form of protest.
Despite the varied interpretations and criticisms, al-Zaidi's act cemented his status as a figure who, from the perspective of many ordinary people, dared to challenge a powerful leader, embodying the sentiment of those who felt voiceless and victimized by the war. His subsequent humanitarian and political endeavors further underscore his commitment to addressing the issues that fueled his initial protest.