Home
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
CEIBS forum highlights environmental, social concerns in volatile global markets
Shanghai set to sustain growth momentum by promoting its business environment
Sunday
- Subscribe
Related News
Journalist who threw shoes asks for asylum
Source: Agencies |
January 20, 2009, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A SWISS lawyer working on behalf of the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at United States President George W. Bush said yesterday his client will seek political asylum in Switzerland.
Geneva-based lawyer Mauro Poggia said Muntadhar al-Zeidi's life is in danger if he stays in Iraq.
Al-Zeidi has been detained in an Iraqi jail awaiting trial since he was seized by guards after his December 14 outburst at a joint news conference in Baghdad by Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
"He is in danger over there," Poggia told The Associated Press yesterday. "He's also in danger in other Muslim countries because people who support his action could try to make him a martyr."
Al-Zeidi's gesture of anger at Bush turned the employee of a minor TV station into a national hero to many Iraqis fed up with America's six-year presence in the country. But concern has been raised about his safety after allegations that he had been severely beaten and tortured in detention.
Poggia said any harm caused to al-Zeidi could trigger violent protests in Iraq.
"I think it's in the interest of the current Iraqi government that nothing happens to Mr al-Zeidi," he said.
"My client needs to make his request at the Swiss embassy in Baghdad when he is released," said Poggia.
"But we don't know when he will be able to do that because he still hasn't gone to trial."
Al-Zeidi, 30, had been due to face a trial last month on a charge of assaulting a foreign leader, but the court date was postponed after his defense filed a motion asking to °?reduce the charges to simply insulting Bush.
Geneva-based lawyer Mauro Poggia said Muntadhar al-Zeidi's life is in danger if he stays in Iraq.
Al-Zeidi has been detained in an Iraqi jail awaiting trial since he was seized by guards after his December 14 outburst at a joint news conference in Baghdad by Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
"He is in danger over there," Poggia told The Associated Press yesterday. "He's also in danger in other Muslim countries because people who support his action could try to make him a martyr."
Al-Zeidi's gesture of anger at Bush turned the employee of a minor TV station into a national hero to many Iraqis fed up with America's six-year presence in the country. But concern has been raised about his safety after allegations that he had been severely beaten and tortured in detention.
Poggia said any harm caused to al-Zeidi could trigger violent protests in Iraq.
"I think it's in the interest of the current Iraqi government that nothing happens to Mr al-Zeidi," he said.
"My client needs to make his request at the Swiss embassy in Baghdad when he is released," said Poggia.
"But we don't know when he will be able to do that because he still hasn't gone to trial."
Al-Zeidi, 30, had been due to face a trial last month on a charge of assaulting a foreign leader, but the court date was postponed after his defense filed a motion asking to °?reduce the charges to simply insulting Bush.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
