Bush shoe-thrower wants Swiss asylum
January 19th, 2009 - 5:04 pm ICT by IANSGeneva, Jan 19 (DPA) An Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W. Bush wants to apply for political asylum in Switzerland, his lawyer said Monday.Muntazer al-Zaidi made headlines around the world when he hurled his shoes at Bush during a press conference in Iraq Dec 14. Such an act is considered an insult in the Arab world.
Al-Zaidi’s lawyer, Mauro Poggia, confirmed a report in the Swiss daily La Tribune that he would submit an asylum application to the Foreign Ministry in Berne this week.
The lawyer said he had been approached through the International Committee of the Red Cross by al-Zaidi’s family who feared that his life would be in danger if he were to remain in Iraq.
The 29-year-old television journalist has been in detention since the incident, which did not harm the president who was able to duck and avoid the shoes.
The lawyer said al-Zaidi had suffered injuries to his eye and ribs while in detention.
He is due to stand trial in Iraq for “aggression” and faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
- Iraqi shoe-throwing journalist arrives in Geneva - Oct 13, 2009
- Shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist wants Swiss asylum - Sep 22, 2009
- Throwing footwear: A trend to showcase anger - Oct 18, 2011
- Iraqi shoe-thrower targeted with shoe (Lead) - Dec 02, 2009
- Shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist to seek asylum in Switzerland - Jan 19, 2009
- Iraqi shoe-thrower pelted with shoe - Dec 02, 2009
- Zardari guarded by 'human shield' at press conference to prevent shoe attack - Aug 20, 2010
- Shoe throwing Iraqi journalist's release from jail postponed by a day - Sep 14, 2009
- Show thrower says ex-Oz PM Howard deserved 'a lot worse'for Iraq War involvement - Oct 26, 2010
- Shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist released - Sep 15, 2009
- Shoe attacks started with George Bush - Jun 06, 2011
- 'Iraqi reporter who hurled shoes at Bush was injected with unknown substance in jail' - Sep 15, 2009
- Iraqi shoe-thrower coming to Delhi to watch play on him - Mar 07, 2011
- Shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist alleges torture (Lead) - Sep 15, 2009
- Tripura minister praises shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist - Dec 23, 2008
Tags: aggression, arab world, asylum application, berne, foreign ministry, geneva, george w bush, insult, international committee of the red cross, iraqi journalist, jan 19, lawyer, mauro, old television, political asylum, president george w bush, ribs, swiss, television journalist, zaidi
