Court reduces sentence for Iraqi shoe thrower

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD – Iraq's highest court on Tuesday reduced the prison sentence for an Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at former President George W. Bush from three years to one, a court spokesman said. Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar, the spokesman, said the decision was taken because the journalist had no prior criminal history.

The defense appealed the original ruling to the Federal Appeals Court citing an Iraqi law stipulating a maximum sentence of only two years for publicly insulting a visiting foreign leader.

The decision came as Barack Obama made his first official visit to Iraq as U.S. president.

Muntadhar al-Zeidi was sentenced to three years in March after pleading not guilty to a charge of assaulting a foreign leader. He described his action as a "natural response to the occupation."

=snip=

Though al-Zeidi is scheduled to be released in December 2009, al-Saadi said he could be free within five months with credit for good behavior.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090407/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq_shoe_thrower

[onehandle]

1. He's lucky. If it wasn't for the heavy coverage, he'd be a dead man.

A sentence like that is a slap on the wrist in that corner of the world.

[EFerrari]

10. I doubt it. He's a hero in Iraq. n/t

[rfranklin]

2. He should get a ticker tape parade...

if there were any true justice.

[tomm2thumbs]

3. Nike should come up with a commemorative shoe to celebrate - I'd buy a pair

[RedCloud]

4. Maybe they need SMART shoes

They go where you want them to go.

[louis-t]

5. Riiiight, SMART shoes that are attracted to stupid

instead of heat. Bravo!

[Vidar]

6. They should elect him president.

[Danascot]

7. Muntazer al-Zaidi, should come to the US when he is released

He will be hailed as a hero, because he is.

[barbtries]

8. he should have won a first class cruise

as far as i'm concerned. i just wish he'd connected, but if he had of course he would probably be dead.

[LeftishBrit]

9. Glad to hear that

IMO, he deserves a medal!

I only wish he'd had as many shoes as Imelda Marcos, and thrown them all.