Digging Into Iraq's "Shoe-Throwing" Law

By: Randall Joyce
Topics: World Watch

Muntader al Zeidi, an Iraqi television reporter, threw his shoes at President Bush on Sunday and now it seems the Iraqi government is ready to "throw the book" at him. There have been numerous, conflicting accounts of which law is being used to prosecute al Zeidi, so we decided to do a little research. It appears that the law in question existed before the U.S. invasion. It is worth noting that the sentence for assaulting a foreign head of state is not spelled out in the law itself. A number of legal experts have told us the maximum sentence would be 15 years in prison, but one claimed that since both shoes missed that sentence could be cut in half to 7-and-a-half years.

Below is text of the law:

CHAPTER THREE
Offences against the Public Authorities

(CBS)

SECTION ONE

Offences affecting the constitution

Paragraph 223 - (1) Any person who murders the President is punishable by death.

(2) Any person who assaults the President or attempts to do so but not to the extent of murdering him is punishable by imprisonment.

(3) The same penalties apply, according to the circumstances, if the offence is committed against a foreign Head of state while he is in Iraq or on an official visit.

Paragraph 224 - Any person who resorts to the use of violence, menaces or any other illegal method in order to force the President or his representative to perform a duty assigned to him by law or to refrain from doing so is punishable by life imprisonment or imprisonment for a term of years.

The penalty will be imprisonment for a term of years if the act is committed against the Prime Minister or his deputy or a minister or member of the National Assembly.

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by ajmarine111 December 19, 2008 12:39 AM EST: He stood bravely in defiance of injustice and tyranny..

Posted by toncul at 09:31 PM : Dec 18, 2008

It would have been nice if he had felt that way when Saddam was in power.; Reply to this comment


by toncul-2009 December 19, 2008 12:31 AM EST: This story is sooooo FAKE!!! Its clear that this selfless man did not ask for a pardon as he and the whole world knows that he did nothing wrong. His country has been made one big concentration camp under the Nazi Jack Boot..He stood bravely in defiance of injustice and tyranny..May God have Merci upon him as he endures torture at the hands of Saten; Reply to this comment


by kc629 December 19, 2008 12:11 AM EST: he''s a hero! enough said he deserves world-wide support! i am so glad someone had the ''you know what'' to do something like this while he was still in office

its about time someone started treating him like the dog that he is!; Reply to this comment


by cariboubarbi December 18, 2008 11:49 PM EST: This guy is a hero. He should be set free.; Reply to this comment


by closethippy1 December 18, 2008 8:10 PM EST: It doesn''''''''t matter what the law states, If someone invades your country you have the right to confront them.
The only thing this guy is guilty of is MISSING THE LIEING COWARDLY SNEAK THIEF THAT INVADED HIS COUNTRY. Posted by rharrin1

So you support the terrorists that kill out troops in Iraq? You must be at least four grades away from graduating from the 8th grade and my hope is that you and your family die a horrific death for supporting these terrorist.
Posted by MindURownBiz at 03:25 PM : Dec 18, 2008

How convenient of you to invade any country and then call anyone there who resists a "terrorist".
Can''t have it both ways, buddy. Time for you and the warmongers in the US to do some serious growing up.; Reply to this comment


by sfcusarmy1 December 18, 2008 7:45 PM EST: text of the law - 2) Any person who assaults the President or attempts to do so but not to the extent of murdering him is punishable by imprisonment.

(3) The same penalties apply, according to the circumstances, if the offence is committed against a foreign Head of state while he is in Iraq or on an official visit.

THROW THE BOOK AT HIM!; Reply to this comment


by camo840 December 18, 2008 7:15 PM EST: TO: NewLector
After reading your post, I initially assumed that English is not your 1st language, given the misspellings and bad grammar. However, your use of "Homeboy" suggests you may be American. In any case, your opinion might be more persuasive if you did not appear so ignorant. Allow me to note a few instances. A guy "throws" a shoe. One asks to be given a break, not a "brake". Women and children are indeed "kinds" of people, but animals are not. Air Force One is neither "privet" nor a "plain" but a military plane. Do you even know the meaning of the word "sarcasm"? It means saying one thing, but meaning the opposite. Example: I am SURE you are a VERY knowledgeable person with a SPECTACULAR understanding of world events and foreign relations.
The guy you are defending assaulted a head of state who was a guest in his country. That''s just stupid, not to mention impolite. He''s lucky he wasn''t badly injured or killed. He''ll soon be in prison, and he has thrown away his career as a journalist. He is neither a "rebel fighter" nor a "hero".
I''m not a supporter of Pres. Bush, but the office of the POTUS should be respected no matter who holds it, and no matter where they may be. By the way, Saddam Hussein is dead, and Bin Laden has never been nor will he ever be the leader of any nation. The point is, if any US citizen threw a shoe at a visiting foreign dignitary, that imbecile would be subdued and thrown in prison too.; Reply to this comment


by ajmarine111 December 18, 2008 7:10 PM EST: listen you idiotic brainless moronic skumbag.

Posted by signtwo at 04:02 PM : Dec 18, 2008

After this, you expect a conversation from me?????; Reply to this comment


by notblue December 18, 2008 6:53 PM EST: Rarrin, what you and other libs fail to understand is that this guy who threw his shoes does not represent the Iraqi majority, he represents the Al Sadre faction, the same minority faction who are causing chaos in the new Iraqi congress who are in reality against any form of DEMOCRACY in Iraq.; Reply to this comment


by ajmarine111 December 18, 2008 6:47 PM EST: Honestly, what we would do if Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden or any dictator would destroy our country and come to visit our country and some one of our citizens throw a shoe to this guy?

Posted by NewLector at 01:49 PM : Dec 18, 2008

Simple,...Saddam or OBL would have hanged him from a crane and left him to rot in the sun for all to see.; Reply to this comment