Initial Response

After the incident the Iraqi government criticised al-Zaidi's action and "demanded" an on-air apology from Al-Baghdadia TV.

Al-Baghdadia TV issued a statement demanding al-Zaidi's release. The statement read:

"Al-Baghdadia television demands that the Iraqi authorities immediately release their stringer Muntadhar al-Zaidi, in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people on the ousting of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. ... Any measures against Muntadhar will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime".

On December 15, 2008 thousands of Iraqis marched in Baghdad to demand the release of al-Zaidi. Crowds gathered in Sadr City district of Baghdad and called for "hero" Muntadar al-Zaidi to be freed from custody. There were similar scenes in Najaf. The demonstrators in Sadr City and Najaf alluded to the shoes. Participants in Sadr City "waved shoes attached to long poles" and those in Najaf threw their shoes at a passing United States military convoy. The "vast majority" of viewers of al-Baghdadia TV who telephoned to the station in order to express their opinions said that they approved al-Zaidi's actions.

Al-Zaidi has been given a bravery award by a Libyan charity group Wa Attassimou, chaired by leader Muammar al-Gaddafi's daughter. The group also urged for al-Zaidi's release. In Syria, al-Zaidi was "hailed as a hero."

Saddam Hussein's former lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said he was forming a team to defend al Zaidi and that around 200 other lawyers, including Americans, had offered their services for free. Dulaimi said "It was the least thing for an Iraqi to do to Bush, the tyrant criminal who has killed two million people in Iraq and Afghanistan." An Iraqi lawyer has stated that al Zaidi is likely to get at least two years in prison if he is prosecuted for insulting a visiting head of state, but if charged with attempted murder he could face a 15-year term.

A Saudi businessman has offered US$10 million to buy the shoes. "The shoes should be exhibited in a museum as they resemble a rocket that talks on behalf of all Iraqis,"

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muntazer_al-Zaidi