FEMEN Topless Activists Begin Trial in Tunisia, Amid Little Sympathy from Citizens By Maxine Wally | Jun 05, 2013 11:48 AM EDT Three European women who have been charged with public indecency after protesting topless in front of Tunisia's Justice Ministry on May 29 began their trial Wednesday. The women, all members of the Ukrainian-based feminist group FEMEN, demonstrated against the incarceration of their fellow FEMEN member Amina Tyler-a Tunisian woman who put up topless photos online in March, the words, "my body is my own and not your honor," written on her chest. >>>

Draped in traditional white Tunisian cloaks, the women appeared Wednesday in the same court they had demonstrated in front of. Outside, dozens protested against them. Witnesses said one European woman held a sign supporting Femen but immediately drew the ire of the crowd and was hustled away by police. Under the Tunisian legal system, outside groups can join a trial as "injured parties", become privy to the case files and sue for damages. The addition of new plaintiffs would likely increase the duration of the trial. The activists were calling for the release of Amina Sboui, a Tunisian member >>>

Pauline Hillier and Marguerite Stern from France, and Josephine Markmann from Germany arrived in court around 9.30 GMT on Wednesday wearing the traditional Tunisian headscarf, or safsari. Judge Karim Chebbi called for a break in the hearing at the end of the morning, after lawyers representing Islamist groups angered by the topless protest asked to participate in the trial as civil parties. "We are asking for a delay to examine the file and prepare our argument," said Anouar Ouled Ali, who has previously defended hardline Salafists prosecuted for acts of violence. The defence >>>