Shoe-Thrower Subject to Imprisonment, Perhaps Torture

(Cross-posted at FDL)

Over the past several years I've said a lot of things about President George W. Bush, few of them publishable anywhere except online, and even by blog-standards I've, um, pushed the envelope. So maybe I'm the wrong person to be calling for this. But I'm going to anyhow.

Mr. President, please publicly forgive Muntadhar al-Zeidi for throwing shoes at you, and please state, unequivocally, that the Iraqi journalist should not face charges or endure official harassment for his actions. If American values mean anything at all, this is the right thing to do.

According to press reports, al-Zeidi is currently being held by the Iraqi government in an undisclosed location. He faces quite serious, if as yet unspecified charges:

An Iraqi lawyer said Zaidi risked a miminum [sic] of two years in prison if he is prosecuted for insulting a visiting head of state, but could face a 15-year term if he is charged with attempted murder.

In the United States, "insulting a visiting head of state" is not a crime. Nor should it be. Throwing a shoe could certainly be illegal, and hustling a shoe-thrower out of a press conference would certainly be understandable. But pressing charges?

We value vigorous dissent in this country. So much so, that even when objects are publicly hurled at controversial speakers, we do not necessarily prosecute, and if we do, we do not consider the "insult" the specific crime at issue. Property damage as a result of such an incident might be a felony, but never an "insult."

According to al-Zeidi's brother, the journalist

"might serve two years in prison or pay a fine for insulting a president of foreign country unless Mr. Bush withdrew the case. “If they manage to imprison Muntader, there are millions of him all over Iraq and the Arab world,” Maythem al-Zaidi said.

There are indeed. For political reasons, forgiving this man would be nothing but beneficial. It would show that Americans can be tolerant. It would show that Americans are not vengeful. And it would show that we do not consider "insults" to be a matter for imprisonment: we do not hold one set of beliefs and values for ourselves, and another set for others. But this man, a citizen of Baghdad, makes the case better than I ever could:

Dr. Lutfi Al-Obusi, a 58-year-old political science professor, said: “I disagree with [the shoe-throwing] because that is opposite of our Muslim and Arabic traditions. Because Mr. Bush was here to say bye for Iraq and Iraqis. And in the same time Bush is president of the U.S. and he called for the liberation and freedom. So I hope Mr. Bush will forgive Mr. Muntader al-Zaidi for what happened. And if Mr. Bush will not approve for releasing Mr. Muntader al-Zaidi that will create big problem."

President Bush, you need to avoid this "big problem." Do this one thing, this one small thing, for the sake of peace. Forgive Muntadhar al-Zeidi and call for his immediate release, and call for him to be protected against all forms of official harassment.

Do this ONE right thing before you leave.

UPDATE. Reports indicate that al-Zeidi may have been tortured. Via FDL:

Urgent appeals for Al Zaida's safety should be made by phone to the White House - 202-456-1111 and the Iraqi Embassy - (202) 742-1600.

Comments

[Ripley]

"And remember, these are the people who tried to kill my Dad. And threw a shoe at me!!"

Just you wait...

[Karatex]

What kind of just and loving God allows a man to murder hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women and men with no consequence except having to dodge a thrown shoe... and then allows said shoe-thrower to be imprisoned and tortured?

Oh, and attempted murder? How many people die from being hit with a thrown shoe? Unless it's a horseshoe or something...

[Poicephalus]

If you can't say it, no one can.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 6:14

Fuck!

[knowdoubt]

Sounded to me like the torture started BEFORE they got him out of the room! As another matter seems a little unrealistic to ask the dubya to ruin a perfect record of never in doubt and never right while taking his victory laps.

[noblejoanie]

Remember Karla Fay Tucker?

Bush isn't going to forgive or pardon, he'll ask for a videotape of the beating.

[J Neo Marvin]

Ummm...would be a nice gesture, but I don't see Mr. "Free Speech Zone" even considering something so magnanimous and democratic.

[four legs good]

Tortured? fuck, that's just crazy.

[Jay_B]

I was at a Shane MacGowan and the Popes show at Irving Plaza several years ago and he got absolutely pegged with a near-full can of Coors Light for some reason (he was putting on a good show and wasn't particularly slurring his words more than usual). But, being the pro he is, he didn't miss a single hiss. I'm not even sure he noticed.

And the moral of the story: No one was beaten up and everyone got to sing along to A Pair of Brown Eyes once again.

[Ripley]

I see that sexual deviant and television tough guy, Bill O'Reilly, has puffed up his chest and threatened to show al-Zeidi who's boss, with a physical assault.

Way to stand up for America, Bill. You make us all so proud.

[kay]

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[steve simels]

If I were a betting man, I don't think I'd put money on Bush doing the right thing on this one.

Well, or anything, but you know what I mean.

[Bitter Scribe]

I see that sexual deviant and television tough guy, Bill O'Reilly, has puffed up his chest and threatened to show al-Zeidi who's boss, with a physical assault.

Oh, how I wish O'Reilly could be locked up alone in a room with this guy for ten minutes. Especially if al-Zeidi was shown a montage of all the fatuous things O'Reilly has said about Iraq.

[Caliph Garrett]

Matthew 6:14

That Christ guy never said or did anything that would have displeased the emperor or his administrators; certainly nothing worth getting tortured over.

He was a saint, I tell ya!

[rea]

It would be nice to think that GWB would, for once in his life, do the manifestly decent and humane thing.

Fat chance.

[SteveB]

And let's not forget the U.S. soldiers in Iraq who will be placed at even greater risk due to the growing outrage over Mr. al-Zeidi's imprisonment and torture. One call from Bush to get al-Zeidi released might release a little steam from the pressure cooker and maybe save the lives of some of our troops, who will be getting things more deadly than shoes thrown at them.

Nah, Bush doesn't give a shit about them either.

[rev.paperboy]

al-Zeidi isn't in jail yet, he's still in the hospital with a broken arm and broken ribs and leg and eye injuries as a result of the beating he suffered when he was removed from the press conference.

http://kevinswoodshed.blogspot.com/2008/12/progress-gee-its-nice-to-see-some-kind.html

[Xecky Gilchrist]

It would be nice to think that GWB would, for once in his life, do the manifestly decent and humane thing. Fat chance.

Yup. I second the plea made in the post, but don't think it's likely. There might have been a ghost of a chance of Bush doing the right thing, now that he's being all legacy-minded and probably being advised by his handlers to consider doing some statesmanlike dignitudinous stuff. However, since this struck at his pride, no amount of wheedling by underlings is going to get him to let al-Zaidi off the hook.

"And remember, these are the people who tried to kill my Dad. And threw a shoe at me!!"

Zackly.

[Potto Pisin]

al-Zaidi is an asshole and should be shot for attempted murder on a visiting head of state. Fuck al-Zaidi. Whatever happens to the shitbird is his own fault, and he has nobody to blame but himself.

What is it with muslims and their shoe throwing? Does the “insult” of being hit with a shoe stem from the fact that muslims usually go barefoot, and owning shoes is the mark of a rich man. Shoes are so rare and unattainable to most muslims. So the mere fact that one would throw such a valued possession at someone else speaks of their contempt for that individual. What a stupid and backwards culture. Islam, religion of peace. What bullshit!

I am a sad and lonely person and I like to have sex with shoes.

The last sentence above is my editorial addition, but I believe it is not entirely out of character for this particular poster. I do not believe in "outing" commenters, but I'll make an exception in this case. Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. Dick Morris.