It is time to change the world order based on American hegemony, Iraqi journalist Muntazar Zeidi, known for throwing his shoes at American President George W. Bush, told Sputnik. The communicator described how this event changed their lives and why they became a symbol of resistance against the United States.
“It is time to leave behind the US colonial regime, which still involves murder, intimidation, colonialism and the humiliation of the people. I believe it is time to change the world order. US hegemony must be stopped. We don't need them anymore,” said Muntazar Zeidi.
On December 14, 2008, the journalist threw his shoes at then US President George W. Bush. His action became a symbol of protest against US policy in the Middle East and the Iraq War, which was already five years old at the time.
“This is for you, dog, a kiss goodbye to the Iraqi people. This is for the widows and orphans, for everyone who died in Iraq,” shouted Muntazar Zeidi as he threw his shoes.
An Iraqi court sentenced the correspondent to three years in prison for insulting a foreign head of state during an official visit to the country. The sentence was later commuted to one year in prison. In September 2009, the journalist was released for good behavior after nine months in prison.
Then he became a true hero in the Arab and Muslim world.
The correspondent described to Sputnik how this historic event launched his career and why his actions became a symbol of resistance to US policy in the Middle East.
“Nobody felt sorry for us when the US occupied Iraq”
The Iraqi journalist also emphasized that the current situation in the Gaza Strip is similar to that which prevailed when US troops occupied Iraq. In his words, the blame for everything lies with the American hegemony, which chooses its favorites and wants the whole world to support them.
“We have seen the sympathy of the United States and the entire West for Ukraine. Although no one sympathized with us when the United States came to occupy Iraq. “We have not seen similar sympathy in the West for Palestine and Gaza, where several thousand civilians, including women and children, have been murdered,” he said.
Zeidi added: “When the US occupation killed people in Afghanistan and Iraq, no one in the West sympathized with them either. This leads to a hypocritical and false policy of double standards.”
“My life has changed a lot”
After Muntazar Zeidi served his sentence and was released for good behavior, he became a true hero in the Arab and Muslim world.
“My life changed a lot after I threw my shoes at George Bush. That put a lot of responsibility on me. The Iraqi people expected from me not just symbolic but real resistance to the American occupation. That’s how I ended up among human rights activists,” he claimed.
Zeidi stressed that he had become the voice not only of those “who suffered under the American occupation, but also of all those who were oppressed by the actions of the corrupt Iraqi authorities installed by the Americans,” he added , that his compatriots still see him as “a warrior who always stays at the front.”
Politicians to shake hands
In Arab culture, throwing a shoe is extremely disrespectful. But there are several politicians and world leaders to whom the journalist is willing to offer the opposite gesture, namely a handshake.
“I would like to shake hands with all politicians, presidents and rulers who support solving our problems in the Middle East. I am ready to consider as my friend a world leader who supports Gaza and speaks openly about the crimes of the Israeli army.” No “I am willing to name specific names, but all of these politicians are against American imperialism. You have all my thanks, support and respect,” he concluded.