George W. Bush shoe-throwing incident
2008 incident in Baghdad, Iraq
On 14 December 2008, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi removed his shoes and threw them at then United States president George W. Bush during a joint press conference with Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, Iraq. Bush quickly ducked, avoiding being hit by either shoe. The second shoe collided with a U.S. flag positioned behind Bush. Al-Zaidi was subsequently grabbed, and removed from the room by security.
Al-Zaidi received a three-year prison sentence, which was reduced by two years. On 15 September 2009, after nine months of imprisonment, he was released early as he had no prior criminal record.
There have since been many other shoe-throwing incidents on an international scale.
Event
During a 14 December 2008 press conference at the prime minister's palace in Baghdad, Iraq, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at United States president George W. Bush. Bush was scheduled to leave office roughly five weeks later, following the inauguration of his successor Barack Obama. As he threw his first shoe, al-Zaidi yelled "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, dog", in Arabic.
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