Al-Zaidi became a folk hero in many Arab countries after tossing both his shoes at Bush during a press conference in Baghdad as a “farewell kiss from the Iraqi people.” Al-Zaidi was quickly arrested and charged with “aggressive actions toward a foreign official,” a charge that could land him 15 years in jail under Iraqi law. His lawyer said the asylum request came because life for al-Zaidi would be extremely difficult (even assuming that he doesn't spend the next 15 years of it in jail) and that it would be impossible for him to go back to his job as a journalist in Iraq because of his newfound notoriety.
One other reason that al-Zaidi might be seeking asylum is because Iraqi security forces apparently beat him badly while he was in custody to prompt him to write a letter asking for forgiveness for his shoe-throwing outburst. Several weeks after the beating that knocked out one of al-Zaidi's teeth, injured his eye and left him covered in bruises, his brother Maitham reports he is looking well and nearly healed. Maitham al-Zaidi said he brother was surprised at the attention his action received and the public rallies in his support. He said that Muntazer told him he threw his shoes at Bush to express his opinion, and the opinion of all Iraqis, about the occupation of Iraq by American forces.
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