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German student charged for throwing shoe at Chinese premier

By Stefano Ambrogi | Reuters

German student Martin Jahnke arrives at Cambridge magistrates court, eastern England, 10 February 2009. Reuters/Andrew Winning/UK

A 27-year-old German student appeared in court on Tuesday accused of throwing a shoe at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao when he gave a speech at Cambridge University.

Martin Jahnke, a researcher at the university, appeared before Cambridge Magistrates’ Court and denied committing a public order offence during Wen’s visit to the university on 2 February.

The case was adjourned until 10 March and Jahnke was released on unconditional bail, the Press Association reported.

The shoe missed Wen as he gave a speech on the last day of his visit to Britain, landing about a metre away from him.

The protester, who was held by university security guards, blew a whistle and then shouted: “How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator? How can you listen to the lies he is telling? Stand up and protest.”

Wen hesitated for a moment before continuing to speak.

The protest followed the hurling of shoes by an Iraqi journalist at former US President George W Bush on his farewell visit to Iraq in December.

China initially expressed strong displeasure over the shoe-throwing incident, calling it “despicable conduct,” but Wen later urged leniency for the thrower.

Copyright © 2009 Reuters

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