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Lebanese satirist in legal trouble over controversial Islam Tweet

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Feb 23, 2015 - Lebanese satirist Charbel Khalil sends kisses to his supporters after appearing before a prosecutor at the judicial palace in Beirut, Lebanon. The country's top Sunni religious authority filed a judicial complaint against Khalil for allegedly defaming Islam after he shared a photo on social media viewed by some as insulting to Islam. (AP)

Lebanese satirist Charbel Khalil, center, sends kisses to his supporters after he appeared before a prosecutor at the judicial palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Feb 23, 2015. The 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. Khalil found himself in hot water after he shared a photo on social media earlier this week that was viewed by some as insulting of Islam. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) (The Associated Press)

Supporters of Lebanese satirist Charbel Khalil cover their mouths with black cloth and hold a French placard that reads: "we are Charbel," as they protest outside the judicial palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Feb 23, 2015. The 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. Khalil found himself in hot water after he shared a photo on social media earlier this week that was viewed by some as insulting of Islam. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) (The Associated Press)

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.