Judge: Iraqi Shoe Thrower Appears Beaten

When the Iraqi officials suddenly announced that journalist, Muntader al-Zeidi, would not be allowed to appear in open court and could not see his family for eight days, there was widespread speculation that he had been beaten. Now an investigating judge has found that he has signs of a severe beating with bruises on his face and around his eyes.

Al-Zaidi has asked President al-Maliki for a pardon saying “It is too late to reverse the big and ugly act that I perpetrated.” In the meantime, he has become an international celebrity after his footwear protest.

What is most alarming is that, if Iraqi police beat a person in such a high-profile case, one can imagine the lack of deterrence that they feel in normal cases.

For the most recent story, click here.