(Thumbnail image from The New York Times)
“Muntader al-Zaidi demanding an apology now from Iraq’s prime minister, saying that beatings left him with broken bones and internal bleeding. Iraq’s military denies the claims. Al-Zaidi was just released after spending nine months in a Baghdad jail.” (FOX News)
A reporter threw his shoes at the former president during a press conference back in December. It’s old news, but Al-Zaidi’s release from prison today has re-opened the issue worldwide. We’re analyzing how the media are covering the issue, and their differing opinions on the journalist’s actions.
Let’s start with British news source ITN, which focuses on the newfound celebrity for the journalist, rather than the crime he committed.
“Before all this, al-Zaidi was a little known reporter at a TV station, but the shoe-throwing has given him a certain amount of status, there are even reports of fathers offering their daughters to him for marriage."
New York Times writer Marc Satora looks at the journalist's fame in a different light: the damage his claims could do, although Satora didn't seem convinced by them.
“Given Mr. Zaidi’s cult hero status, his charges that he was mistreated could resonate widely. ... Mr. Zaidi offered no proof and looked in fine physical condition at his news conference, but he was missing a front tooth.”
Al Jazeera English claims that Muntader al-Zaida is a reporter of the people, and threw his shoe as a statement for all Iraqi citizens.
“As a TV journalist he reported on the suffering of the Iraqi people following the invasion in 2003. He saw the press conference as a final chance to express his anger.”
Wonkette, a blog out of Washington D.C, thinks al-Zaidi should be grateful for his release, and actually makes fun of his claims of torture."This guy—who, by the way, has been nothing but trouble—has a lot of big claims about being whipped with cables and beaten with pipes and forced to endure electric shock. And something about it being cold…The United States of America has liberated the BEST SCOOP EVER for this Muntader al-Zaidi and he is being just awful about it, really."
Indian news source “Little About” disagrees with the Wonkette, stating that his actions and stint in prison have already helped create a sense of unity in Iraq. Several countries have offered the journalist political asylum and medical treatment, but al-Zaidi will most likely stay and continue his efforts at home.
“He will not go into politics, contrary to what has been said in the past. He wants to do something to help the Iraqi people, Uday said. And he has done more to help Iraqi people with his defiance than any politician has.”
Finally, the Christian Science Monitor brings the focus back to today, claiming that Vice President Joe Biden will be the one dealing with Iraqi hostility against American presence with his unannounced visit to Baghdad today. So, Al-Zaidi: spokesperson for the people of Iraq, or troublemaker?
