Jeez this is pretty radical. The guy who put a smile on the face of the world, is going to jail for three years! Fuck, that’s hectic!

Let’s check out the video before we go on:

This, from The Guardian:

Iraqi shoe-thrower sentenced to three years in jail

Journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi had pleaded not guilty to charge of aggression against George Bush

The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at George Bush, gaining instant hero status in much of the Arab world, has today been sentenced to three years in prison.

Muntazer al-Zaidi, 30, who worked for the al-Baghdadiya television channel, shouted “Long live Iraq” when the sentence was read out.

Zaidi had earlier pleaded not guilty and said his actions were a “natural response to the occupation”.

He was given the three-year sentence for assaulting a foreign head of state during an official visit.

After the verdict was announced, his relatives erupted in anger, shouting that the decision was unjust and unfair. Some collapsed and had to be helped from the court. Others were forcibly removed by security forces as they shouted “Down with Bush” and “Long live Iraq”.

[more here]

I think the fact that he is from Iraq didn’t help things. If this shit went down in The States or the UK, the guy would have a TV show by now and would almost definitely be a millionaire.

Shame.

Thanks for the good times, Muntazer.