Saturday, January 17, 2009
Happy birthday to you~
Happy birthday to you~
Happy birthday~
My favorite Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar al-Zeidi, jailed since throwing his shoes at George Bush, received a visit from his brother Friday and a birthday party from his guards as he turned 30.
Muntadhar al-Zeidi, who has gained worldwide cult status for his splendid protest gesture, is reportedly in good shape but has been denied access to his lawyer. His brother Maitham visited him for two hours in his detention cell in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone.
Al-Zeidi has been in custody since the Dec. 14, 2008. Thousands of Iraqi citizens have demonstrated for al-Zeidi’s release and hailed his gesture of contempt for the outgoing American president.
Originally, Al-Zeidi was due to face a trial in December on a charge of assaulting a foreign leader, which his defense team said carried a maximum sentence of 15 years. But an appellate court is considering a motion to reduce the charges to simply insulting Bush.
Defense lawyer Dhia al-Saadi said it was a matter of freedom of expression.
From the Left 
Gee, if I’d known I would have sent Muntadhar al-Zeidi a birthday card. He’s a particular hero of mine, as I suspect he is to millions right here in the good, old US of A!
Get that man some chocolate cake. And a file hidden inside.
Get this man a stripper with a 36D rack and a new prayer rug.
If they’d set his bail, I’d have been the first to open my wallet. I like his idea of a free Iraq.
I’m glad they are coming to reason with the charges. Muntadhar will have many virgins in the after life……uhhhh…praise god.
Wonder if the cake was in the shape of a ***shoe***? Ha! The man did public service the day he whipped both shoes squarely at Bush’s head.
Yes! Set him free– in the new liberated Iraq. He deserves special recognition, and some kind of medal of truth, or medal of “he fully deserved that”.
Randall: I like the file idea.
Do they have a Western Union office in the Green Zone? I want to send this chap $25 and a thank you card.