Iraq Shoe-Thrower Sentence and Other Public Figures Punked, Egged and Handcuffed

March 12, 2009— -- Muntadher Al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then-President George W. Bush in December, was sentenced in Baghdad today to three years in prison for assaulting a foreign leader.

After hearing his sentence in a Baghdad courtroom, Muntazer al-Zaidi shouted, "Long live Iraq," The Associated Press reported.

His family and attorneys argued the sentence was excessively harsh.

"The whole case was politicized," Zaidi's brother Dhirgham, who attended the sentencing, told ABC News. It was "an unjust verdict."

Abdul Sattar Al Berqdar, a spokesman for the Iraqi Criminal Court, told ABC News that Zaidi was sentenced to three years in jail according to article No. 23 of the Iraqi Judicial Law, "Attacking a visiting foreign president."

Berqdar also added that "Zaidi has the right to appeal within a period of one month."

Like Bush's experience in Iraq, people in the public eye often have legions of fans, but they also risk a negative backlash. In light of the Baghdad court's decision, ABC News takes a look at public figures who have been punked and ridiculed on the world stage.

The Iraqi shoe-thrower case began in February, but was adjourned until March, based on technicalities.

Muntadher Al-Zaidi was on trial for hurling two shoes at the now former president last December during Bush's surprise farewell visit to Iraq. The president reacted without pause, ducking quickly to avoid being hit in the face.

Related Stories

Trump campaigns after court amid jury selection

• Apr 17, 3:42 PM

Senate kills Mayorkas impeachment trial

• Apr 17, 5:52 PM

OJ Simpson dies at 76

• Apr 11, 6:32 PM

"This is a farewell kiss, dog ... This is the end!" yelled the local reporter during a joint press conference in Iraq with Bush and Prime Minister Nouri-al Maliki.

After the fact, Bush brushed the incident off with humor, saying, "That was a size 10 shoe he threw at me, you may want to know. "

Just weeks after the former president's shoe-throwing incident in Iraq, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was the target of a similar offense during a visit to Britain geared toward improving trade between Britain and China. Jiabao was giving a speech at Cambridge University when Martin Jahnke, a member of the audience, chucked a shoe at the prime minister, missing him by a couple dozen feet or more.

The prime minister later asked Cambridge University authorities to pardon the protester, quoting a Chinese saying, "It is more precious than gold for a young man to turn around and make up for his mistakes." Jahnke is set to face a trial on June 2.

British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson was forced to go green last week during a run-in with an environmental activist. The environmentalist threw green liquid at the British government official as he arrived for a conference focused on reducing carbon emissions.

"I don't quite know what point she was making because she was so busy throwing what seemed like green soup or something in my face, that she failed to tell me what the protest was about," said Mandelson. "But, as you can see, thankfully it wasn't paint and I've come through it intact."

The protester, who claimed to be motivated by Mandelson's support for a plan to build a new runway at Heathrow Airport, was arrested and later released on bail.