U.S. Human Rights Group calls for due process and transparency in the treatment of journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi, who was detained after hurling his shoes at President Bush and verbally repudiating his Iraq war policies.

The organization, Global Exchange, in no way endorses Muntadhar al-Zaidi's actions, but nevertheless recognizes their clear political intent and calls for a judicial response that is open and proportional to the offense. President Bush himself said that during the incident he "did not feel the least bit threatened" and that it represented "what happens in a free society when someone wants to get attention." Nevertheless, press reports indicate Muntadhar al-Zaidi was beaten and kicked while being taken into custody.

"The grim history of violent suppression of political dissent in Iraq both before and during the US occupation make the case of Muntadhar al-Zaidi an opportunity for the Iraqi authorities to model the kind of fair and torture free judicial process so crucial to creating a peaceful, stable, and independent country," says Ted Lewis, Global Exchange's Human Rights Director.

Global Exchange is calling on both the Iraqi government and the U.S. Administration to assure the physical well-being of Muntadhar al-Zaidi and the swift and open adjudication of his case.

"The response to the actions of Muntadhar al-Zaidi is a great moment for Iraq to make a dramatic and high profile statement about how a future democratic Iraq will deal fairly with dissent", says Kirsten Moller, Executive Director of Global Exchange. "As uncivil as throwing shoes might seem, it is a welcome change from the car bombs and the kind of mayhem we have become used to hearing about."

For more information about Global Exchange visit www.globalexchange.org.

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