BAGHDAD: A huge bronze shoe sculpture has been erected in tribute to the Iraqi journalist who grabbed instant fame when he threw his shoes at former US president George W Bush last year.
\nThe shoe, in which a tree has been planted, stands three metres high (about 10 feet) and sits atop a white pedestal in Tikrit, the hometown of executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
\nA rose bush is growing next to the monument which was erected in the gardens of an Iraqi foundation that cares for children whose parents have died in the violence that engulfed Iraq after the March\u00a02003 US-led invasion.
\nA poem praising Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi has also been written on a board and stands at the foot of the monument, the work of\u00a0Iraqi artist Laith al-Ameri.
\n\u201cThis is a gift for the family of Muntazer al-Zaidi, a hero, whose act helped Iraqi people feel proud,\u201d a member of the children\u2019s foundation told a crowd of 400 people gathered for the unveiling of the work of art.
\nThe foundation\u2019s president, Shaha al-Juburi, insisted that the sculpture was not backed by any political party or organisation.
\nZaidi hurled his shoes at Bush during the US president\u2019s farewell visit to Iraq on December 14, an action considered a grave insult in the Arab world.
\nThe 29-year-old journalist for Al-Baghdadia television also insulted the American president, shouting: \u201cIt is the farewell kiss, you dog.\u201d
\nHis action was hailed across the Arab world as an ideal parting gift to a president widely unpopular in the region.
\nZaidi was arrested after his act and charged with \u201caggression against a foreign head of state during an official visit.\u201d He faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.
\n– AFP\/il<\/p>\n

Courtesy: channelnewsasia.com<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BAGHDAD: A huge bronze shoe sculpture has been erected in tribute to the Iraqi journalist who grabbed instant fame when he threw his shoes at former US president George W Bush last year. The shoe, in which a tree has been planted, stands three metres high (about 10 feet) and sits atop a white pedestal … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n