The Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at former US president George Bush told his trial today he had wanted to restore the pride of his devastated country.
In his first public appearance since he was taken into custody on December 14th, Muntadhar al-Zaidi told the trial in Baghdad he did not intend to harm Mr Bush or to embarrass Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
“What made me do it was the humiliation Iraq has been subjected to due to the US occupation and the murder of innocent people,” Mr Zaidi (30) said. “I wanted to restore the pride of the Iraqis in any way possible, apart from using weapons.”
Mr Zaidi addressed the three-judge panel after being greeted by applause and cheers from supporters as he entered the courtroom. His aunt handed him a scarf imprinted with a red, black and green Iraqi flag, which he kissed and draped around his neck.
The chief judge then threatened to order everybody out of the room if they did not calm down. The trial was later adjourned until March 12th.
Mr Zaidi has been in Iraqi custody since he was wrestled to the ground by guards and dragged away after the outburst at Mr Bush’s joint news conference with Mr Maliki in Baghdad. As he threw the shoes, he shouted at Mr Bush in Arabic: “This is your farewell kiss, you dog! This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.”
In evidence today Mr Zaidi described his growing frustration as Mr Bush spoke about his victories and achievement at the press conference.
“I was seeing a whole country in calamity while Bush was giving a cold and spiritless smile,” Mr Zaidi said. “He was saying goodbye after causing the death of many Iraqis and economic destruction.”
Mr Zaidi’s lawyers say he has been charged with assaulting a foreign leader, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The defence has tried to get the charge reduced, saying the act does not merit such harsh punishment.
The defence has argued that Mr Bush was not in Baghdad on an official visit because he had arrived in Iraq unannounced and without invitation. That would mean the charge of assaulting a foreign leader would not be applicable, according to the defence.
Judge Abdul-Amir al-Rubaie adjourned the trial, saying the court needed time to ask the Iraqi cabinet whether Mr Bush’s visit was “formal or informal.” Visits by foreign dignitaries are rarely announced beforehand due to security reasons.
The defendant, who was wearing a beige suit and a black shirt, spoke confidently and showed no signs of the injuries he allegedly suffered at the hands of security forces.
The case’s investigating judge has said he was struck about the face and eyes, apparently by security agents after he hurled one shoe at a time, forcing Mr Bush to duck for cover. Mr Zaidi said he was tortured, beaten and given electric shocks during his interrogation.
AP