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Tunisian rapper Weld El 15 jailed for threatening police | Tunisian rapper Weld El 15 jailed for threatening police |
(34 minutes later) | |
Tunisian rapper Ala Yaacoub has been sentenced to two years in prison for insulting and threatening the police. | Tunisian rapper Ala Yaacoub has been sentenced to two years in prison for insulting and threatening the police. |
Police clashed with his supporters outside the court in the capital, Tunis, with three of them arrested, AFP news agency reports. | Police clashed with his supporters outside the court in the capital, Tunis, with three of them arrested, AFP news agency reports. |
Known to his fans as "Weld El 15", he had posted a song, The Police are Dogs, on the internet. | Known to his fans as "Weld El 15", he had posted a song, The Police are Dogs, on the internet. |
Yaacoub emerged from hiding for his one-day re-trial after being given the same sentence in absentia in March. | Yaacoub emerged from hiding for his one-day re-trial after being given the same sentence in absentia in March. |
He turned himself in in the hope of receiving a more lenient sentence, reports the BBC's Sihem Hassaini from Tunis. | He turned himself in in the hope of receiving a more lenient sentence, reports the BBC's Sihem Hassaini from Tunis. |
'Tear gas fired' | 'Tear gas fired' |
The video's director, Mohamed Hedi Belgueyed, and actress Sabrine Klibi, who featured in it, had been given a suspended sentence of six months each during their trial in March, our correspondent says. | The video's director, Mohamed Hedi Belgueyed, and actress Sabrine Klibi, who featured in it, had been given a suspended sentence of six months each during their trial in March, our correspondent says. |
Yaacoub's lawyer Ghazi Mrabet described the sentence as "very tough for an artist who decided of his own accord to face justice", AFP reports. | Yaacoub's lawyer Ghazi Mrabet described the sentence as "very tough for an artist who decided of his own accord to face justice", AFP reports. |
In the song, Yaacoub called the police dogs who "should be slaughtered instead of sheep on Eid al-Adha [a Muslim festival]", our correspondent says. | In the song, Yaacoub called the police dogs who "should be slaughtered instead of sheep on Eid al-Adha [a Muslim festival]", our correspondent says. |
She adds that Yaacoub was not a popular performer in Tunisia, but received a lot of support from journalists and bloggers after he was charged. | She adds that Yaacoub was not a popular performer in Tunisia, but received a lot of support from journalists and bloggers after he was charged. |
As the judge read out the verdict, shouts of protest erupted in the courtroom from his supporters who were evicted by police. | As the judge read out the verdict, shouts of protest erupted in the courtroom from his supporters who were evicted by police. |
Several people were beaten outside the building, including Emine M'tiraoui, a journalist with the news blog Nawaat, and at least three people were arrested, the AFP news agency reports. | Several people were beaten outside the building, including Emine M'tiraoui, a journalist with the news blog Nawaat, and at least three people were arrested, the AFP news agency reports. |
Tear gas was fired, but it was not clear who was responsible, said the agency. | Tear gas was fired, but it was not clear who was responsible, said the agency. |
Police and friends of the singer blamed each other for firing it, it adds. | Police and friends of the singer blamed each other for firing it, it adds. |
Before his trial, Yaacoub told AFP that the Tunisian authorities were not respecting freedom of speech. | Before his trial, Yaacoub told AFP that the Tunisian authorities were not respecting freedom of speech. |
"I am afraid because in a country like Tunisia the law is not applied; you can expect anything," he is quoted as saying. | "I am afraid because in a country like Tunisia the law is not applied; you can expect anything," he is quoted as saying. |
"In the song, I used the same terms that the police used to speak about the youth. The police have to respect citizens if they want to be respected," he added. | "In the song, I used the same terms that the police used to speak about the youth. The police have to respect citizens if they want to be respected," he added. |
He faced a wide range of charges, including insulting policemen and conspiracy to commit violence against them. | He faced a wide range of charges, including insulting policemen and conspiracy to commit violence against them. |
Tunisia elected a moderate Islamist-led government after the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. | |
It was the first country to be hit by the "Arab Spring", as people demanded an end to political repression and greater freedom. | It was the first country to be hit by the "Arab Spring", as people demanded an end to political repression and greater freedom. |
There has since been an increase in the prominence of ultra-conservative Islamists known as Salafists, who campaign for greater public piety in Tunisia. | There has since been an increase in the prominence of ultra-conservative Islamists known as Salafists, who campaign for greater public piety in Tunisia. |
On Wednesday, a court in Tunis sentenced three European feminists to four months in prison for staging a topless protest. | On Wednesday, a court in Tunis sentenced three European feminists to four months in prison for staging a topless protest. |
A judge convicted the two French women and a German woman after they were charged with public indecency. | A judge convicted the two French women and a German woman after they were charged with public indecency. |
The women were part of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen, which staged its first such protest in the Arab world. | The women were part of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen, which staged its first such protest in the Arab world. |
They were arrested after protesting for the release of fellow activist Amina Tyler, who has been charged with carrying an "incendiary object" in May. | They were arrested after protesting for the release of fellow activist Amina Tyler, who has been charged with carrying an "incendiary object" in May. |