The shoe attack on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Egypt , the latest on a politician in the Middle East , causes many in West to ask : Why is throwing a shoe such a big deal ? One of CNN 's resident experts is producer Mohammed Tawfeeq , who was in Baghdad when President George W. Bush dodged a flying shoe at news conference in the U.S. Embassy in December 2008 . Journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi tossed it because he wanted to `` humiliate the tyrant , '' his brother told CNN . `` Yes , I was there , '' Tawfeeq said . `` It was a very big deal in Iraq . '' Read more : Iraqi artist inspired by George W Bush shoe thrower . In fact , some Iraqis celebrated that moment , he said . `` Other people were not happy because for them they see it -- by end of the day -- like a guest visiting their country , '' Tawfeeq said . `` Traditionally , it was also offensive to insult a guest . '' The act of throwing a shoe at someone or showing them your sole is `` incredibly offensive '' in the Middle East , he said . `` The bottom line is a shoe is dirt , '' he said . `` Throwing a shoe on someone means throwing dirt on that person . '' Professor Faegheh Shirazi , with Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas , agreed , saying it is offensive `` regardless of the religious practices . '' `` Throwing a shoe or hitting someone with a shoe or showing the bottom of your shoe when sitting with legs up on a chair and facing another person all are culturally unacceptable and are considered to be a grave insult and belittling to a person , '' Shirazi said . Another offensive aspect is the significance of the shoe being a sign of wealth . `` Most often , lower-status people and poor men could not wear shoes , '' Shirazi said . `` The feet came in contact with pollution and the dirt on the road . The dirt on the feet indicated the lack of social status , the level of economic class and the level of education and lack of sophistication and intellect . '' Tawfeeq , who occasionally visits the United States , was surprised to learn shoe throwing was not considered an offense in North America . A search of literature reveals references suggesting the power of the shoe is ancient . For example , in the King James Version of the Old Testament , Psalm 60:8 says : `` Moab is my washpot ; over Edom will I cast out my shoe : Philistia , triumph thou because of me . '' `` Perhaps it has to do with the hierarchy of the body position , that is , the relationship between the head and the feet , the head being at the top and not touching the ground and the dirt , '' Shirazi said . `` The head carries a more prestigious status in comparison to the feet , which in older times mostly remained bare . ''
Throwing a shoe is offensive ` ` regardless of the religious practices , '' professor says . ` ` The bottom half is a shoe is offensive , '' says CNN Iraq producer Mohammed Tawfeeq . Some Iraqis celebrated when a reporter threw his shoe at President Bush in 2003 . Isaiah 60:8 offers evidence that throwing is an ancient insult .