Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at President George W. Bush running for parliament

The journalist threw his shoe at the former president in 2008.

ByBen Gittleson
May 2, 2018, 2:58 PM

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during an infamous 2008 news conference is running for parliament in Iraq.

Muntadhar al-Zaidi gained fame when he hurled his shoes at Bush during a Baghdad news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

PHOTO: In this image from APTN video, Muntazar al-Zaidi, foreground, throws a shoe at President George W. Bush, who ducks, during a news conference with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad.
In this image from APTN video, Muntazar al-Zaidi, foreground, throws a shoe at President George W. Bush, who ducks, during a news conference with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad.
APTN, FILE

Bush was not injured, while al-Zaidi was sentenced to three years in prison. He served nine months of the term before moving to Beirut, according to The Washington Post.

Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi throws a shoe at President George W. Bush during a new conference with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2008.
Evan Vucci/AP, FILE

Now, al-Zaidi is back in Baghdad and running against corruption, according to posts on his Twitter account.

His Facebook page features photos of him campaigning.

Iraqis go to the polls on May 12.

ABC News' Mazin Faiq contributed reporting from Baghdad.

PHOTO: A bronze sculpture honoring the shoes of Iraqi reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi, who gained global fame by throwing his footwear at former President George W. Bush, stands atop a white pedestal during an unveiling ceremony on Jan. 27, 2009.
A bronze sculpture honoring the shoes of Iraqi reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi, who gained global fame by throwing his footwear at former President George W. Bush in Baghdad on December 14, 2008, stands atop a white pedestal in Tikrit, during an unveiling ceremony on January 27, 2009.
Mahmud Saleh/AFP/Getty Images

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