Trial of Iraq's shoe-throwing journalist postponed
Judge Abdul-Amir al-Rubaie of the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) Feb. 19 postponed the trial of Muntadar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist accused of throwing his shoes at former US president George W. Bush. The new trial date is set for March 12. Al-Zaidi's lawyers argued that Bush's visit was not official and therefore the charge of assaulting a foreign leader should not apply. The trial was postponed so the court could determine if Bush's visit was "official" and respond to the defense.
Al-Zaidi's appearance in court this week was his first public appearance since his December arrest. He testified to a three-judge panel that his actions were meant to restore Iraqi citizens' pride and that he had been beaten while in custody. The assault charge holds a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison while a lesser charge of insulting a foreign leader is punishable by up to three years. Al-Zaidi's lawyers have been unsuccessful in having the charge reduced or dismissed.
Al-Zaidi's trial was initially delayed in December so the court could make a determination of the charges. The trial has been opposed for failing to meet international standards of due process and fairness and has been protested by Iraqis. The shoe-throwing incident occurred at a December 14 joint news conference at which Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) governing the future US military presence in the country. (Jurist, Feb. 19)
See our last post on Iraq.
Recent Updates
13 hours 36 min ago
15 hours 47 min ago
20 hours 11 min ago
20 hours 30 min ago
1 day 12 hours ago
1 day 13 hours ago
4 days 15 hours ago
4 days 19 hours ago
4 days 20 hours ago
5 days 13 hours ago