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: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Iraq court sets trial date for journalist accused of throwing shoes at Bush

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

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[JURIST] The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) on Sunday set a Feb. 19 trial date for the Iraqi journalist accused of throwing his shoes at former US President George W. Bush. The court allowed the charge of assaulting a foreign leader, punishable by up to 15 years in prison, to stand, despite defendant Muntader al-Zaidi's attempt to have it reduced to attempted aggression. Defense lawyer Dhiya al-Saadi said he will try to have the charges dismissed and emphasized that his client was trying to insult, not injure, the US president. The announcement of a trial date comes after an official investigation, which initially led to a trial postponement. Those opposed to al-Zaidi's trial have criticized the CCCI for failing to meet international standards of fairness and due process, and have alleged that al-Zaidi was beaten while in custody. There have also been allegations that a purported apology letter from al-Zaidi had been forged. The shoe-throwing incident occurred at a Dec. 14 joint news conference at which Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) governing the future US military presence in the country.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on February 08, 2009 (boomark / email).