An Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at George W. Bush, kicking off a copycat era
An Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, famously threw his shoes at then-President George W. Bush during a press conference in 2008, marking a significant protest gesture in Arab culture. This act inspired numerous copycat incidents around the world, where shoes were thrown at various political figures as a form of dissent. Al-Zaidi's actions have since become emblematic of protest against authority, leading to a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate today.
- ▪Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw his shoes at George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad on December 14, 2008.
- ▪He was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a foreign head of state, which was later reduced to one year, and he was released after nine months.
- ▪The act of throwing shoes has become a symbol of protest, inspiring similar incidents across various countries including India, China, and Turkey.
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An Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at George W. Bush, kicking off a copycat era Ellsworth Toohey 10:36 am Fri May 29, 2026 By U.S. Federal Government - This image has been extracted from another file, Public Domain, Link "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog!" shouted Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi as he hurled his first shoe at George W. Bush during a Baghdad press conference on December 14, 2008. He launched the second a moment later: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq!" Bush ducked both throws. Al-Zaidi was hauled off, sentenced to three years for assaulting a foreign head of state (later cut to one), and released after nine months. In Arab culture, shoes are unclean, which makes throwing one a grave insult.
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