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Shoe-Thrower is defiant
WASHINGTON POST
Updated: 12/22/2008 11:55:09 PM EST

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Muntadar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who became an
overnight sensation in the Middle East last week after throwing his
shoes at President George W.Bush during a news conference here, spent
his first days behind bars believing his family, co-workers and tribe
would forever shun him, the man's brother said.

The men guarding the 29-year-old journalist at a detention center in
the Green Zone forced him to watch a television channel run by Sunni
extremists loyal to Saddam Hussein and told him that was the only news
outlet in the world that was applauding his act, Oday al-Zaidi said
Monday, a day after he was allowed to visit his brother.

"They told him, 'Your tribe and your family reject you,' " Oday
al-Zaidi said. Pointing toward the television set tuned to the Al-Raee
channel, the guards added: "This is the only channel that supports
you."

In fact, his employer, al-Baghdadia channel, his relatives and people
across the Arab world have praised him.

Oday al-Zaidi, 32, said his brother was gaunt, devastated and bruised
-- but unrepentant.

" 'If I had the same opportunity again, I would throw my shoes,' " at
Bush, Oday al-Zaidi said, quoting his brother.

Oday al-Zaidi said his brother told him guards beat him with a metal
pipe after the Dec. 14 incident. He said his brother had a bruised
eye, is missing an upper canine tooth and has cigarette-burn marks on
the backs of his ears.

His account could not be
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independently verified. Government spokesmen did not answer their
phones Monday. The investigative judge handling Muntadar al-Zaidi's
case said last week that al-Zaidi appears to have been tortured while
in custody.

The judge opened an investigation into his treatment.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said the journalist admitted having
carried out the stunt on behalf of a known insurgent. Maliki did not
elaborate and the journalist's relatives denied the accusation.

The judge, Dhia al-Kinani, arranged the visit, Oday al-Zaidi said,
under the condition that the journalist's relatives stop giving so
many interviews about the case. Oday al-Zaidi said he decided to
disregard the request after discovering that his brother had been
tortured.

The shoe-throwing incident has stalled business in Iraq's
squabble-prone parliament. Lawmakers this week postponed a hearing
about a security agreement with Britain because emotions are still
running high after a session last week erupted into a screaming match
over the event.

For a Turkish shoemaker who says he created the model of leather shoes
Bush narrowly dodged, however, the brouhaha has turned into a bonanza.
After news reports about his shop spread across the globe, Ramazan
Baydan said his Istanbul staff of 100 is scrambling to fulfill the
thousands of orders that have poured in for the $27 shoes.

"We might have to hire 100 more people to make the same shoe," he
said.

Oday al-Zaidi said his brother has long loathed the United States and
was enraged by an incident last year during which an American soldier
was accused of using the Koran, Islam's holy book, for target practice
at a shooting range.

Oday al-Zaidi said his brother did not discuss his plan with relatives
prior to the news conference. During their meeting Sunday afternoon,
Muntadar al-Zaidi told his brother that he contemplated throwing a pen
toward President Bush and spitting on him, but ultimately decided to
use his shoes to make a political statement.

While in custody, the journalist has not been allowed to wear shoes,
Oday al-Zaidi said. His relatives sent him a pair of flip-flops.

Special correspondent Zehra Ayman in Istanbul contributed to this
report. 

http://www.connpost.com/ci_11291948