Journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi hurled two shoes at then-U.S. president George W. Bush during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Dec. 14. (Associated Press)

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W. Bush last December says he was abused while he was held in prison.

Muntadhar al-Zeidi was released from a Baghdad prison on Tuesday after serving nine months for hurling two shoes at the then U.S. president.

Al-Zeidi told reporters he was beaten, whipped and given electric shocks behind a building at the prison over a period of two days after he was taken into custody. Al-Zeidi did not provide further details about his claim but said he would be releasing the names of those who harmed him.

Muntadhar al-Zeidi arrives at the offices of his employer, Baghdadiyah TV, after his release from a Baghdad prison on Tuesday. (Karim Kadim/Associated Press)

He added that he still fears for his life because of his action.

"The U.S. intelligence services and its affiliated services, will spare no efforts to track me as an insurgent revolutionary ... in a bid to kill me," he said. "And here I want to warn all my relatives and people close to me that these services will use all means to trap and try to kill and liquidate me either physically, socially or professionally."

Al-Zeidi threw the footwear during a joint news conference with the Iraqi prime minister in Baghdad as an act of protest over the U.S.-led invasion and the occupation of Iraq since March 2003. In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes is a sign of contempt.

Television cameras captured the scene as Bush ducked twice and was unhurt. The president publicly stated he did not feel threatened by the incident.

"This is your farewell kiss, you dog," al-Zeidi shouted. "This is for the widows and orphans of Iraq."

The act of protest made him a hero around the Arab world but al-Zeidi, 30, was sentenced to three years in prison. The sentence was reduced to a year on appeal.

Iraqi law allows the release of prisoners sentenced to one year after they've served three-quarters of the sentence if they have no previous convictions and have shown good behaviour in jail.

Al-Zeidi was originally scheduled to be released after serving nine months on Monday but that was held up because of delays in processing paperwork.

A relative of Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi decorates a poster on Sunday bearing al-Zeidi's photograph in preparation for his release from jail. (Karim Kadim/Associated Press)

"Today I am free again but my home is still a prison," al-Zeidi said Tuesday, referring to the continued American presence in the country.

Al-Zeidi was accompanied as he left prison by several members of parliament who have supported him.

Al-Zeidi immediately visited the television station where he was employed before returning to his family's home in Baghdad for a celebration.

"I congratulate the Iraqi people and the Muslim world and all free men across the world on the release of Muntadhar," Uday told a crowd gathered at the family's home waiting for his return. "Every time Bush turns a new page in his life he will find Muntadhar's shoes waiting for him."

Uday said his brother will travel to Greece on Thursday for medical checkups and because he had concerns about his safety in Iraq. He will be sleeping at an undisclosed location for the time being.

His former employer, Baghdadiyah TV, has reportedly bought him a new four-bedroom house and a car and his job has been kept open for him. But some of his family members have said al-Zeidi is interested in moving into humanitarian work.

With files from The Associated Press