Name: Jabeur Mejri
Location: Tunisia
Update:
On 3 March 2014, Tunisian cartoonist, Jabeur Mejri was released from prison following nearly two years in prison for publishing cartoons of the prophet Muhammad on his Facebook page.
Reason Behind Bars:
Mr. Jabeur Mejri was arrested on 5 March 2012, after two lawyers in the eastern coastal city of Mahdia filed a a complaint against him in connection with his online posts, which included ‘nude’ cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. On 28 March 2012, a primary court ruled that his posts were insulting to Islam, and a threat to“public order” and morality. Merji was later sentenced to seven and half years in prison – the maximum punishment for each of the charges – along with a fine of1200 Tunisian Dinars (around $800 USD). On 25 April 2013, the Court of Cassation upheld Mejri’s sentence and ordered that he complete the remaining 6 years of his sentence.
According to Mejri’s lawyer, Mejri was tortured during his interrogation and was later attacked on several occasions by other inmates inside the prison once the news that he had ‘insulted Islam’ had spread. His family has described him as ‘emotionally tired’ from what they insist is unjust imprisonment. Merji’s sister told Amnesty International: “Jabeur is worried and depressed because he has been in prison for a year now, and he feels that he has been forgotten.”
Background:
The case of Jabeur Mejri and his colleague Ghazi Bejhi - charged in absentia after having fled to Greece to avoid prosecution - has heightened concerns about the government’s growing intolerance and censorship of allegedly anti-Islamic rhetoric.
The prosecution invoked a number of draconian laws originally codified under former President Ben Ali’s regime during Meriji’s trial including, article 226 of Penal Code which states that a person found guilty of undermining public morals by “intentionally disturbing other persons in a way that offends the sense of public decency” can be sentenced to prison. In addition, Meriji was accused of “publishing articles which violate good morals”, under article 86 of the 2001 Telecommunications Code, which provides for a prison term of one to two years and a fine of up to 1,000 dinars for “harming others or disrupting their lives through public communication networks.”
Quotes:
The League of Tunisian Humanists condemned the sentence and complained about the, “unclear circumstances that surrounded the trial, since one of the defendants fled”.
The International Freedom of Expression Exchange described the case as “an extremely disturbing event” and part of a pattern of “repeated attacks against journalists, artists and women who commit the ‘crime’ to express their opinions freely”
For More Information:
- Two atheist friends convicted for blasphemy in Tunisia
- Trial of Ghazi Beji and Jabeur Mejri
- Tunisian blogger loses appeal over Facebook Prophet taunts
- Tunisian blogger jailed for seven years for mocking Islam
Take Action:
• Send a letter to Tunisian Authorities demanding Jabeur Mejri’s immediate release, at:
• Sign a petition that will be sent to President Obama, calling attention to the case of Jabeur Mejri