Lebanese satirist in hot water over claims he defamed Islam
BEIRUT -- A Lebanese satirist has appeared before a prosecutor in Beirut after the country's top Sunni religious authority filed a judicial complaint against him for allegedly defaming Islam.
Charbel Khalil found himself in hot water after he shared a photo on social media that was perceived by some as insulting to Islam.
The photo shows a woman lying on a black bed-cover with the Islamic slogan "There is no God but God and Muhammad is his Prophet" on it in white Arabic letters -- resembling the banner of the extremist Islamic State group.
It was accompanied by the words: "sexual jihad under the Prophet's umbrella."
Khalil appeared before the prosecutor Monday. He said the photo had meant to shine a light on the harm being done by IS militants to Islam.
