Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Freethinker

Home
Nonreligious
Six months’ prison for blogger who parodied koranic verse

Six months’ prison for blogger who parodied koranic verse

Last updated on: July 16, 2020 at 2:08 pm by Barry Duke

Six months’ prison for blogger who parodied koranic verse 2020-07-16T14:08:22+02:00 Barry Duke

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Image via YouTube/France24

AMNESTY International has called on the authorities in Tunisia to overturn the conviction of blogger Emna Chargui, above, who was found guilty this week of using social media to ‘offend Islam’ and sentenced to six months.

Chargui’s ‘crime?’. On May 2 she shared an image on Facebook containing text that imitated the format of a koranic verse. The text simply advised people to to take precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immediately after, she began receiving hate messages from people threatening to kill or rape her, yet the authorities, according to Amnesy, failed to take action to protect her or to investigate these threats.

Responding to the sentence, Amna Guellali, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said:

This sentence is a bitter blow to freedom of expression in Tunisia. It will have a chilling effect by deterring others from daring to express their opinions online. We call on the Tunisian authorities to overturn her conviction and to investigate the threats Emna has been receiving

Emna Chargui should never have been charged in the first place. Instead, the authorities should have opened an investigation into the rape and death threats she has received in response to her post.

Image via YouTube/France24

Chargui was charged with “inciting hatred between religions through hostile means or violence” and “offending authorised religions” under Articles 52 and 53 of the press code.

She is currently at liberty and will be appealing the verdict.

After charges were brought against the atheist blogger in May, Guellali said:

The prosecution of Emna is yet another illustration of how, despite Tunisia’s democratic progress, the authorities continue to use repressive law to undermine freedom of expression.

It is unacceptable for someone to face a prison sentence of up to three years just for sharing a satirical post on Facebook. Such a trial sends a message that anyone who dares to express a controversial view on social media runs the risk of being punished.

The Facebook image that led to Chargui’s conviction

On May 4, Chargui was summoned by judicial police who questioned her the next day in the presence of her lawyer. Two days later, she appeared in court before the prosecution who did not allow her lawyer to accompany her.

A panel of seven individuals interrogated her for half an hour. Questions thrown at her included some relating o her faith. One panelist even asked her if she had consulted a psychotherapist, suggesting that she might be mentally disturbed.

The Tunisian authorities have also prosecuted others since 2011 for writings considered offensive to Islam. For example, two bloggers, Jabeur Mejri and Ghazi Beji were prosecuted and sentenced on 28 March 2012 to seven years in prison for satirical publications mocking the ‘Prophet’ Mohammed. The sentence was upheld on appeal.

On November 6, 2019, a prosecutor of the counter-terrorism unit of the first instance court in Tunis charged Mounir Baatour, a lawyer and LGBT activist, on several counts including Article 52 of the Press Code, for a post he shared on his Facebook page deemed offensive to Islam.

He fled to France after receiving death threats.

Guellali said:

The right to freedom of expression extends to expression which some might consider shocking or offensive. The Tunisian government must amend its laws so they are compliant with human rights and stop prosecuting people for their peaceful expression.

• If you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee – and boy, do I get through a LOT of coffee keeping this site active – please click the link below.

I’d love a cup of coffee

News

Amnesty International

Previous Post

July 15, 2020

Hypersensitive group targets 'offensive-to-Hindus' Brahma beer

Next Post

July 16, 2020 Majority of Brits want to see 'gay cure' outfits banned

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Archive My Atheism News Opinion Reviews Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 March 2007 April 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jesus Paul Solomon Peter

Books by This Author Books by The Freethinker

See All Titles »