Shoe Throwing in Iraqi Culture

Seemingly harmless footwear can become a symbol of protest and dissent.

When Iraqi journalist Mantazer al-Zaidi removed his shoes and hurled them, along with a pointed epithet, toward U.S. President George W. Bush at a 2008 press conference in Baghdad, the non-Arab world was horrified, tickled and justifiably puzzled by the expression and ensuing uproar. The strange relationship of footwear to politics in Iraqi culture extends throughout the Middle Eastern world and beyond throughout history.

Ancient Symbolic Concepts

The practice of worshiping at the feet of an idol transcends cultures and is present today in many non-Arab traditions. Removal of shoes as a sign of respect still can be seen in Western cultures as well. Today, shoe removal at the entrance of mosques is mandatory as a display of subservience to Allah. Conversely, if someone can show respect of another by worshiping at his feet, then disrespect can be expressed by footwear as well. The notion of feet and shoes as being dirty has retained a strong significance in the Arab world, although the practice of shoe throwing has little to do with Islamic tradition. Insults and curses, prevalent in every culture, generally reflect the opposition to a prescribed order, and shoe throwing in Iraq in particular has long been seen as a strong symbolic gesture of dissent.

Saddam Hussein and Fruits of Iraqi Dissent

Political use of shoes as a derogatory gesture came into world prominence in 1995 when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein met with then U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson. Hussein was gravely insulted when Richardson exposed the soles of his shoes while crossing his legs during a meeting. The incident showed the lengths to which Hussein would go to quell dissent in his country and the power that shoe symbolism had in minds of Iraqis. Later, before the outset of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Hussein commissioned a floor mosaic at the entrance of the Rashid Hotel depicting the face of President Bush, delighting in the fact that it would be repeatedly trod upon by Iraqi officials and dignitaries.

Symbol of Democracy and Free Speech in Question

The 2008 shoe-throwing incident was quickly spun by President Bush and his officials as a sign that democracy and freedom of speech had finally taken hold in Iraq. This position dismissed the cultural significance of the act and downplayed the breach of security that had occurred. Possibly fearing backlash, as would have surely occurred under the rule of Hussein, many reporters apologized for the actions of their professional peer. During the initial occupation of Baghdad by U.S. troops, Iraqi citizens were seen symbolically pounding a statue of Hussein with their shoes, displaying pointedly their dissent with Hussein and his government more than a show of support for U.S. occupation. In 2008, while Bush jokingly applauded the display of free expression, Iraqi security members beat and arrested al-Zaidi, and debate over his sentencing prompted concern over the level of free speech actually available to Iraqis.

Symbol of Frustration and Rebellion

As a display of dissent, the shoe-throwing incident echoed the displeasure and frustration of much of Iraq and the Arab world. While the statue of Hussein was once the target of a symbolic shoe beating, now the United States was clearly seen as the object of ire by many Iraqis. Massive support for al-Zaidi's actions was seen throughout Baghdad, and the beleaguered Bush administration could not distance itself from the situation quickly enough.

Iraqi Politics and Fallout of al-Zaidi's Famous Shoes

Ironically, it was Hussein's oppressive governance that possibly perpetuated the shoe-throwing insult as a particularly political statement, and the continued occupation of Iraq by U.S.-led troops furthered the frustration of Iraq's disparate political groups and broadened the rights of free expression for Iraqi citizens. The significance of shoe throwing as a political statement is now understood by a wider audience, and that will likely lead to similar displays in the future. Eventually, as with all good insults, the meaning behind the act may become diluted.

References

• Reuters: Iraqi Shoe Throwing Reporter Becomes Talk of Iraq; Dec. 15, 2008
• Slate: Voting with Their Feet; Brian Palmer; Dec. 15, 2008
• "The New York Times;" Iraqi Journalist Hurls Shoes at Bush and Denounces Him on TV as a "Dog;" Steven Lee Myers and Alissa J. Rubin; Dec. 14, 2008
• "Saudi Gazette;" Shoe: A Sign of Insult, not Freedom; Abdullah Al-Asmary