Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi was freed Tuesday spending nine months in jail for throwing his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush during his last visit to Iran. One day later, on Wednesday, in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, a Fallujah man was shot and killed after throwing a shoe at a U.S. army vehicle.
According to witnesses, Ahmed Latif, 32, shouted abuse before throwing a shoe at a U.S. army vehicle. He was shot dead as soldiers at first thought it was a grenade attack. The sole of the shoe is considered a severe insult in Arab cultures.
Further, witnesses indicated that Latif was mentally disturbed. The US military's official stance was that the incident was treated as a suspected grenade attack. They said:
“Positive identification of the attacker was made, and US forces fired in self-defence wounding the attacker.
“Local Iraqi police secured the scene and transported the wounded attacker to a local hospital for medical care."
It was later confirmed that Latif died of his wounds. In the original incident, as he threw his shoes, al-Zaidi shouted in Arabic: "This is your farewell kiss, you dog! This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
