Tunisia's Femen member denounces guards for beating fellow prisoner during court appearance

TUNIS, Tunisia — A detained Tunisian member of the Ukrainian women's group Femen says female prisoners are mistreated by prison guards, and her attempt to intervene has brought new charges.

Amina Sboui, 19, shocked Tunisians in March by posting her topless photos to denounce the mistreatment of women. She was later arrested on May 19 for scrawling "Femen" on the wall of a cemetery near a mosque. She is awaiting trial on charges of undermining public morals and desecrating a cemetery.

On Monday, Sboui told the judges at the Msaken court, 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Tunis, that she only intervened after guards were beating another inmate.

She now faces a new set of charges of insulting and defaming state employees. The verdict on those charges is expected on July 29.