Jabeur Mejri and Ghazi Beji were charged in March 2012 by Tunisian authorities with “disturbing public order and violating social morals” and “publishing articles which violate good morals.” These charges were placed over a book that Ghazi had written, The Illusion of Islam, which Jabeur promoted on social media, as well as over “cartoons of Prophet Mohammad in the nude” that both men allegedly posted on social media. 

"This sentence is much too harsh ... They are just two young graduates who thought they were free to say they are atheists and thought they were protected on Facebook." - Bochra Bel Haj Hmida, human rights activist

Being that any depiction of the Prophet is legally forbidden, Jabeur and Ghazi were both convicted and sentenced. Ghazi managed to flee Tunisia and was convicted in absentia, while Jabeur was forced to serve his time. He was given seven and a half years’ imprisonment and a fine. Jabeur made an attempt to appeal this ruling, but it was almost immediately denied. According to his lawyer, while captive to the authorities, Jabeur was tortured, and once imprisoned, he became subject to brutalization by religious inmates.

These convictions were roundly condemned by human rights organizations including Amnesty International, but they were nonetheless upheld. In 2014, however, Jabeur received a presidential pardon for his “crimes.” Ghazi had likewise found asylum in France the previous year.