queerqueerspawn:queerqueerspawn:The man who threw his shoes is Muntadhar al-Zaidi and according to s
queerqueerspawn:queerqueerspawn:The man who threw his shoes is Muntadhar al-Zaidi and according to some eye witnesses he was severely beaten in the press conference room before being dragged out of it, leaving a visible trail of blood. George W. Bush remarked, “That’s what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves.”Al-Zaidi was sentenced initially to three years in prison for it, which was commuted down to one year, although he was released after only nine months. While officials characterized it as a release based on his good behavior while in prison, al-Zaidi sought medical care for teeth he lost while imprisoned as well as other injuries from being electrocuted, beaten with iron bars, and immersed in cold water - acts typically considered torture internationally.While he expressed interest in using what local and global sympathy he had to address the various problems in 2009 Iraq (which remained occupied by US forces at the time), he also discussed the country as feeling like a prison, which he couldn’t organize philanthropy within. Looking back he rejected being labeled a hero or radically informed actor, saying, “I am a person with a stance. I saw my country burning.”Wait, there’s more! It hasn’t been covered very much but he’s been involved in various organizing struggles in the Global South and sought out mass solidarity in international decolonization politics. -- source link