Tunisians Protest Outside Trial Of Femen Activist

KAIROUAN, Tunisia (AP) – Hundreds are demonstrating outside the trial of a Tunisian belonging to the Ukrainian feminist group Femen, demanding she be harshly punished.

The trial in Tunisia’s religious center of Kairouan Thursday follows Amina Tyler’s arrest after she attempted to hold a protest on May 19 to coincide with the conference of an ultraconservative Muslim group.

Tyler is being charged with carrying an “incendiary object” – a reference to tube of pepper spray.

Local lawyers at the trial called for Tyler also be chaged with threatening the security of the city.

Three German and French Femen activists who held a topless protest in Tunis Wednesday calling for her release remained in custody Thursday.

Tyler scandalized Tunisian society by posting topless photos of herself online.