The Sole of Discontent

Few acts of protest are as universally understood—or as viscerally AND visually satisfying—as the humble shoe throw. The gesture transcends language barriers, cultural divides, and political affiliations, delivering a message as clear as the slap of a flip-flop against bare skin: You are not worthy.

From ancient insults to modern-day rebellions, hurling footwear at the powerful is a tradition as old as civilization itself, rooted in the symbolic degradation of tossing what touches the ground at those who claim to be above it.

The practice traces its origins to the Middle East, where showing the sole of one’s shoe is a grave insult, akin to spitting in someone’s face. In Iraq, the phrase “I will shoe you” is a threat of humiliation. This cultural context turned shoe-throwing ( أحذفك ) into the ultimate act of defiance, a democratic weapon for the disenfranchised: cheap, accessible, and universally relatable. After all, even the poorest protester owns a pair of shoes, and nothing stings like a well-aimed loafer.

The modern era of political shoe-throwing was catapulted into infamy by Muntadhar al- Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who lobbed his soles at George W. Bush in 2008. But he was far from the first, or the last. Below, the top ten most iconic shoe-throwing incidents, ranked by audacity, impact, and sheer theatrical flair.

1. George W. Bush (2008)

George W. Bush shoe throw Statue in hommage of the Bush shoe throw

The Mona Lisa of shoe-throws. Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi interrupted a press conference in Baghdad to hurl both shoes at Bush, yelling, “This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog!” The shoes missed, but the moment became legend, inspiring memes, merchandise, and a global debate on the ethics of footwear-as-protest. Bush later joked about his dodging skills; al-Zaidi was imprisoned for a year and hailed as a folk hero. A statue of the shoe was briefly raised in the journalist’s hometown of Tikrit, Iraq. However, it was removed faster than it went up due to an order from the governor.

Bonus: in 2009, al-Zaidi experienced a similar incident when a man threw a shoe at him (and missed) at a press conference in Paris.

2. Tony Blair (2010)

Two years after Bush’s close call, his partner in the Iraq War faced a similar fate. An Iraqi student in Dublin launched a shoe at Blair during a book signing, shouting, “This is for the martyrs of Iraq!” Security intercepted it mid-air, but Blair’s smirk only fueled the fury. The thrower, later identified as a dentistry student, faced fines but no regrets.

3. Israeli Ambassador to Sweden (2009)

Pro-Palestinian protesters in Stockholm pelted then-Ambassador Benny Dagan with shoes during a university speech. One hit the podium; none struck flesh. The incident underscored the shoe’s role as a global symbol of resistance, cheaper than a Molotov, safer than a stone, and just as damning.

4. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2009)

At Cambridge University, a protester hurled a shoe at Wen during a speech on human rights, yelling, “This is a scandal!” The shoe missed, Wen quipped, “This is nothing,” and the thrower was tackled by an audience member, proving even shoe-throwing has its class dynamics.

5. Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram (2010)

Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram shoe throw

A Sikh activist launched a shoe at Chidambaram during a press conference in Delhi, protesting the government’s handling of religious violence. The minister ducked; the shoe hit a camera. The thrower was arrested, but the message stuck: in India, shoes fly across party lines.

6. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (2011)

A lawyer in Karachi chucked a shoe at Zardari’s motorcade, enraged by corruption allegations. The shoe hit the car, not the man, but the imagery was potent: a leather- clad indictment of a leader accused of walking all over his people.

7. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (2014)

A protester in Istanbul whipped off her sneaker and flung it at Erdoğan during a speech, shouting, “Take this for the martyrs!” The shoe missed, but the act—by a woman, in a headscarf—defied stereotypes of passive dissent in conservative circles.

8. Australian Senator Jacqui Lambie (2015)

In a rare Western twist, an anti-Islam protester threw a shoe at Lambie during a rally. She caught it mid-air and threw it back, sparking a surreal game of catch-me-if-you-can. The incident proved even politicians can play the shoe game, if they’ve got reflexes.

9. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (2013)

A defected soldier lobbed a shoe at Assad’s portrait during a rebel rally, a symbolic strike at the dictator’s omnipresent image. The shoe missed the man but hit the myth, a small victory in a brutal war.

10. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (2019)

A protester in Abuja hurled a sandal at Buhari’s convoy, frustrated by economic hardship. The shoe bounced off the bulletproof glass, but the sentiment pierced through: We are stepping on broken dreams.

The shoe remains the great equalizer, a projectile of the people, a slap in the face of power. Whether it’s Bush dodging in Baghdad or Blair ducking in Dublin, each throw carries the weight of history, the rage of the unheard, and the undeniable truth: when leaders fail, soles will fly. As long as injustice walks among us, the shoe will remain the people’s weapon of choice, lightweight, low-cost, and loaded with meaning.