A Tunisian surfer was sentenced to six months in prison for sharing on Facebook a publication imitating the style of the Koran which spoke of the coronavirus, said the Tunis court on Tuesday. Emna Charki, 27, was found guilty of attacking religion and inciting hatred after sharing on May 4 on the social network a publication entitled " Surah Corona ".
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" There is no difference between kings and slaves, follow the science and leave the traditions ", one can read in the text with the ironic conclusion " thus speaks the big Jilou ", a name of divinity invented. She was summoned on May 5 by the police, charged the following day for " undermining the sacred ", " undermining of morals and inciting violence ", and left free during the trial. She has ten days to appeal, the Tunis court told AFP.
Amnesty International had called on the Tunisian authorities at the end of May to drop the charges in this case, which the NGO says illustrates the continuing attacks on freedom of expression in the young Tunisian democracy.
The internet user faces " a prison sentence of up to three years simply for sharing a satirical message on Facebook, " said Amna Guellali, regional head of Amnesty International.
" Such a trial sends the message that anyone who dares to express a controversial opinion on social networks risks being punished, " Amnesty said, calling for protection of Emna Charki after " disturbing " threats of " death and rape ". The young woman is prosecuted under article 6 of the Constitution which stipulates that " the state protects religion ".