(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
In adventures around the world, the shoe has been given its distinctive place. Which of us doesn't know the fairy tale about Cinderella's shoes? It meant the end of her sad life with the stepmother and the start of a new, happy life with the prince. The shoe is also present as a theme in the well-known Arabic tales of the rich merchant Al-Tanbouri, who lived in Baghdad hundreds of years ago. Al-Tanbouri struggled to get rid of his discontinued shoes.
Right now, it is Baghdad journalist Muntathar Al-Zaidi's shoes that occupy the world. Simply because they have been dealing with the president of the most important country in the world – the country that has claimed to be world police. The shoe incident, which 29-year-old Al-Zaidi threw at President George W. Bush during a December 14 news conference, struck like a bolt of lightning. In less than an hour, the news circulated among all Iraqis, even those who had not seen it live on television. The case became internationally known a few hours later, and the story topped both Arab and international news.
The al-Zaidi case was followed with excitement in the days that followed. Sources at the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Noui Al-Maliki claimed that the US ambassador to Baghdad had made a serious reprimand to Al-Maliki. He blamed Al-Maliki for the lack of security that allowed Bush to receive the greatest insult an American president has ever experienced. The ambassador is also said to have – in the presence of members of the US embassy and government officials – stated: "This trampling proves that you are not fit to provide security and leadership for Iraq. The government is very upset and it wants to implement radical measures. "
The ambassador did not specify the measures, but the threat was clear. The US ambassador then left both Al-Maliki and Al-Rubayee's security officer. The latter tried, with my concern, to run after the ambassador, while the interpreter confusedly tried to reproduce what he had said to Prime Minister Maliki.
Many Iraqis, Arabs, Europeans and even Americans think Zaidi was a hero who dared to condemn Bush's policies. Some Iraqis think his behavior was inappropriate for a journalist, that words are the only weapons journalists should use. Some claimed that someone paid Al-Zaidi. Others claimed that Al-Zaidi wanted to make history, that he was suffering from megalomania. Some pointed out that it is not good Arabic custom to treat guests this way. Others responded to the criticism by saying that politeness, etiquette and good manners are reserved for guests who deserve it, and that this was not the case with Bush.
So we hear a lot of stories, but what is clear is that the incident is something the people are concerned about. It also inspires writers, cartoonists and video game creators. When I arrived at work the day after the shoe-throwing, I was amazed at the myriads of articles, poems, and cartoons that hailed Al-Zaidi's heroism. Not a day has passed since I received a statement of support for Al-Zaidi and his shoes, both from Iraqi and international senders. Even in Iraqi middle school, students were asked to write about Al-Zaidi and express their views on what happened.
The Turkish shoemaker who made Zaidi's shoes received hundreds of thousands of inquiries from all over the world, including from the United States, asking if he could make the same shoe that Zaidi used. The shoemaker hired more employees, so he can handle the deliveries.
Prime Minister Maliki is now trying to appease the US administration, which condemned the incident, by announcing that there will be a trial. He asked the judges to give Al-Zaidi the highest possible punishment. Al-Maliki also ruled that any lawyer should be prevented from defending Al-Zaidi, except for the lawyer appointed by the court. He said this to prevent hundreds of volunteer Iraqi and Arab lawyers from defending Al-Zaidi. There will also be blackouts during the trial, and only parts approved by the government will be broadcast.
Has Al-Zaidi performed a brave or foolish act? This is a question I leave to readers to answer. The question has been asked countless times in several radio and television programs, and everyone who was asked had different views. The important thing, however, is which verdict the jury will pass on January 15, to put an end to the story of Al-Zaidi's shoes. I wonder if this shoe story, as in the fairy tale about Cinderella, can have a happy ending?
Translated from English by Therese Stordahl.
Mays Ibrahim is an academic and political activist living in Baghdad, Iraq. She writes exclusively for Ny Tid.
