[image: Muntazer al-Zaidi became an instant star in the Arab world ]
Iraqis Pick Up Their Shoes: Reaction From Around the Country NY Times, Dec. 15, 2008
BAGHDAD — An American military patrol in Najaf on Monday was pelted by shoes... In Tikrit, journalists demonstrated in support of an Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at President Bush during a news conference yesterday...Hitting someone with a shoe is a strong insult in Iraq. It means the person is as low as the dirt underneath the sole of a shoe, and the actions of Muntader al-Zaidi, a correspondent for an independent Iraqi television station, were condemned by Prime Minister al-Maliki, the Iraqi government and other reporters at the Sunday news conference.
Mr. Bush was unhurt and made a joke afterward, but the shoes have overshadowed other news coverage of the trip, including an attempt to showcase the new security agreement.
Here are reactions from around Iraq:
Samarra– The ancient city of Samarra, home of the Askariya Shrine explosion which set off a wave of sectarian bloodletting across Iraq, had a number of residents speak out in support of Mr. al-Zaidi.
Tawfeeq Qais, a 31-year-old barber, said: “Muntader expressed his opinion about freedom and democracy brought to Iraq by Bush. So Bush has to take the responsibility of it and this action is considered as a kind of democracy.”
Um Mohammad, a 36-year-old housewife, said: “Long live your right hand Muntader . This is what the American president deserves. I am calling to release Muntader Zaidi.”
Abu Ali, a 55-year-old laborer, said: “It is a wedding of all Iraqis.
Muntader’s action is less than Bush deserves for killing, displacing and bloodletting Iraqis. I will blame the Iraqi government and American forces if anything wrong happens to Muntader.”
Mohammed Ibrahim, 51, said: “Bush deserves more than that because his soldiers have killed Iraqis. If Saddam had occupied America and kill the American people, then what would be their reactions? What we do expect Muntadhar to do when he watched the American forces killed Iraqis according to Bush’s order? Long live for your hand Muntadhar.”
Dr. Qutaiba Rajaa, 58, said: “Although that action was not expressed in a civilized manner, it showed the Iraqi feelings which refuse American occupation. Muntadhar expressed the real Iraqi feelings.”
Najaf – In the holy Shiite city of Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, demonstrators chanted: “Bush, Bush, is a cow, your farewell was by a shoe,” and, “The shoe got its goal straightly, but Maliki turned it away.”
“These demonstrators are refusing the president of evil as well as renewing their refusal of the [security] pact,” said a man named Hazim Araji. “And we have coordinated such demonstrations in the whole of Iraq.”
Mosul — In Mosul, the largely Sunni Arab capital of Nineveh Province, residents said they supported the shoe-tossing Iraqi journalist.
Mohammad Zaki, a 27-year-old lawyer, said: “I appreciate the heroic position of Muntader al-Zaidi. I appreciate his love to home and his challenge to the occupier. I will blame Maliki if anything wrong happen to him or to his family.”
Jasim Mohammed, a 24-year-old laborer, said: “Muntader’s action got back the Iraqi dignity. He got back part of our gravity. God bless you Muntader. We are demanding the Iraqi forces to release him.”
Adnan Majwari, a 44-year-old Kurdish journalist, said: “It was a historical moment and if there are organizations who care about human rights and journalists freedom in Iraq then Muntader al-Zaidi has to be released immediately.”
Dr. Amal al-Annaz, a 48-year-old professor, said: “These are the real Iraqis who are well known for their magnanimity. Throwing a shoe on Bush was not a random action, but it is the result of every wound caused by the American president to the Iraqi people, women and children.”
Ahmad Sameer, a 22-year-old student, said: “It was the moment of the age because Bush will never forget it and it was a reminder to Bush about his wars and causalities in Iraq, but in an Iraqi way.”
“I swear by God that this man has freely expressed all Iraqis’ opinions and brought their wishes to reality,” said Mudhar Adeeb, an engineer.
Fawaz Ahmad, a 45-year-old day laborer, said: “He performed an excellent job and a great challenge. Bush deserves more than that.”
“He has done what the whole world could not,” said another man, Hazim Edress.
From The Times of London (Dec. 15):
Al-Zaidi worked for the independent Iraqi television station al-Baghdadia, which is based in Cairo. ..."Al-Baghdadia television demands that the Iraqi authorities immediately release their stringer Muntazer al-Zaidi, in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people," it said in a statement. "Any measures against Muntazer will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime."