Tawfeeq, who occasionally visits the United States, was surprised to learn shoe throwing was not considered an offense in North America.

CNN: Why shoe throwing is 'incredibly offensive'

By tradition, throwing a shoe, is the most insulting act in the Arab world.

CNN: Shoe-throwing monument removed from Iraqi orphanage

Throwing a shoe at someone in the Muslim world is a patently insulting gesture.

CNN: Commentary: Throwing shoes doesn't help Iraq

The act of throwing a shoe at someone or showing them your sole is "incredibly offensive" in the Middle East, he said.

CNN: Why shoe throwing is 'incredibly offensive'

"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.

CNN: Why shoe throwing is 'incredibly offensive'

Here, it was a church of lintheads, pulpwooders and sharecroppers, shoutin' people, who said amen like they were throwing a mule shoe.

NPR: Excerpt: 'The Prince of Frogtown'