Signs of Abuse? Iraqi Shoe-Throwing Journalist Kept from Court

Posted by Siun , Firedoglake at 11:56 AM on December 17, 2008.

Al Zaida was scheduled to appear in court today for the first hearings of charges against him for this weekend's shoe toss. But Iraqi officials did not let him appear and his family is very worried about what this means:

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at United States President George W. Bush has appeared before a judge in his jail cell because he is too injured to appear in a courtroom, his brother says.

The al-Zaidi family went to Baghdad's Central Criminal Court expecting to attend a hearing, his brother, Dhargham, said.

He said the family was told that the investigative judge went to see al-Zaidi in jail, and to return in eight days, Associated Press has reported.

"That means my brother was severely beaten and they fear that his appearance could trigger anger at the court,'' Dhargham said.

Please take time today to call the White House at 202-456-1111 and the Iraqi Embassy at (202) 742-1600 and Iraqi Consulate office at 202-483-7500 and ask that his safety be protected.

Tagged as: bush, iraq, abuse, shoe, iraqi reporter, muntader al-zeidi

Siun is a regular blogger for FireDogLake.