Man Sentenced To Jail For Smoking During Ramadan

A Tunisian court on Monday sentenced a man to one month in prison for smoking a cigarette in public during the Muslim dawn-to-dusk holy fasting month of Ramadan.

According to a spokesman, Chokri Lahmar, he told newsmen that the man was seen smoking outside the Bizerte courthouse by a judiciary official who informed the police before they arrested him and referred him to the prosecution.

He said the man had 10 days to appeal before the sentence takes effect.

The monday's ruling came a day after dozens of Tunisians demonstrated in the capital Tunis to demand the right to eat and drink in public during the Muslim fasting month.

On June 1 four men were sentenced to one-month jail terms for eating in public during Ramadan.

During Ramadan, the Muslims's tradition state that all muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn to dusk.

Although, they break the fast with a meal known as iftar and before dawn they have a second opportunity to eat and drink during suhur.