Tunis residents walk past graffiti left by rioters on a building housing a controversial art exhibition in the Tunisian capital in June 2012. The graffiti messages read: "God is great,," "Non-believers have no place in Tunisia" and "You are enemies of God."
Tunis residents walk past graffiti left by rioters on a building housing a controversial art exhibition in the Tunisian capital in June 2012. The graffiti messages read: "God is great,," "Non-believers have no place in Tunisia" and "You are enemies of God."
FETHI BELAID/AFP/GettyImages
Tunisian police square off with protesters, including ultra-conservative Salafists, in Intilaka, west of Tunis in June 2012 during a wave of unrest triggered by the art exhibition.
Tunisian police square off with protesters, including ultra-conservative Salafists, in Intilaka, west of Tunis in June 2012 during a wave of unrest triggered by the art exhibition.
FETHI BELAID/AFP/GettyImages
Tunisian artist Nadia Jelassi and her installation "Celui qui n'a pas ... (Anyone who has not ... )," which was interpreted by some Salafists as implying traditionally-dressed women should be stoned. Jelassi says the work is about "trying to show two different ways to practice Islam -- one spiritual, and one closed."
Tunisian artist Nadia Jelassi and her installation "Celui qui n'a pas ... (Anyone who has not ... )," which was interpreted by some Salafists as implying traditionally-dressed women should be stoned. Jelassi says the work is about "trying to show two different ways to practice Islam -- one spiritual, and one closed."
CNN
As a result of the unrest over the exhibition, Jelassi and a fellow artist face charges of harming public order and morals -- charges that could see them sentenced to up to five years in prison if convicted.
As a result of the unrest over the exhibition, Jelassi and a fellow artist face charges of harming public order and morals -- charges that could see them sentenced to up to five years in prison if convicted.
CNN
Jelassi says that despite the threats against her, she will continue to express herself through her art. "Freedom of expression is not something we invented, its limits are well known," she told CNN. "But the sacred is something personal, and no one should intervene in that."
Jelassi says that despite the threats against her, she will continue to express herself through her art. "Freedom of expression is not something we invented, its limits are well known," she told CNN. "But the sacred is something personal, and no one should intervene in that."
CNN