Tunisia: Blogger Prosecuted for Humorous Post: Emna Chargui

On 2 May 2020, 27-year-old Tunisian blogger Emna Chargui shared a Facebook post that she found on social media of a humorous text that imitates the verses of Quran to make fun of the COVID-19 situation. The text is void of any incitement to hatred or violence. It is intended to be funny and it even includes a call for staying home and washing hands. Emna now faces up to three years in prison for this post. On 6 May 2020, the Court of First Instance in Tunis charged her with inciting hatred between religions through hostile means or violence and “offending authorised religions” under articles 52 and 53 of the Tunisian Press Code.

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