<p>Muntazer al-Zaidi — who became a national hero in Iraq after hurling his footwear at the then US president last year — was speaking at a press conference to promote his campaign for victims of the Iraq war when a man threw a shoe at him.<br /><br />Zaidi ducked and the shoe hit the wall behind him. Film footage showed that a scuffle then broke out in the audience. “He stole my technique,” Zaidi said afterwards.<br /><br />French reports said the attacker was an exiled Iraqi journalist who spoke in defence of US policy and accused Zaidi of siding with a dictatorship.<br /><br />Zaidi’s brother, Maithan, then chased the attacker and threw a shoe at him as he left the room. Showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt in Arab culture. Last year, millions saw images of Zaidi shouting: “This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog,” during a Bush news conference, before throwing his shoes at the former president.<br /><br />The Guardian</p>
<p>Muntazer al-Zaidi — who became a national hero in Iraq after hurling his footwear at the then US president last year — was speaking at a press conference to promote his campaign for victims of the Iraq war when a man threw a shoe at him.<br /><br />Zaidi ducked and the shoe hit the wall behind him. Film footage showed that a scuffle then broke out in the audience. “He stole my technique,” Zaidi said afterwards.<br /><br />French reports said the attacker was an exiled Iraqi journalist who spoke in defence of US policy and accused Zaidi of siding with a dictatorship.<br /><br />Zaidi’s brother, Maithan, then chased the attacker and threw a shoe at him as he left the room. Showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt in Arab culture. Last year, millions saw images of Zaidi shouting: “This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog,” during a Bush news conference, before throwing his shoes at the former president.<br /><br />The Guardian</p>
