A Tunisian court has sentenced human rights activist Saadia Mosbah to eight years in prison and fined her £26,000 ($35,000). Mosbah, who leads the anti-racism group Mnèmty, faced charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment and was arrested in May 2024. At 66, she has long been a prominent advocate for sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, particularly in light of a contentious 2023 speech by President Kais Saied, where he described hordes of illegal migrants as a demographic threat.
Since President Saied dissolved parliament in 2021, opposition figures and rights groups have expressed concerns about a steady erosion of rights and freedoms in the North African country. Mosbah's lawyer stated, The verdict is a major shock and part of a broader effort to dismantle civil society groups and shift responsibility for the state's failure to address the migrant issue onto these groups.
In recent developments, Mosbah's son was sentenced to three years in prison, and another activist received a two-year term. A day prior to the hearing, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the World Organisation Against Torture called for her immediate release, citing her age and health concerns. They highlighted that her prosecution is part of a larger pattern of intensified repression against civil society, with new restrictions impacting organizations working on migrant issues.
The case unfolds as Tunisia is facing increasing pressures concerning rising migration flows from Africa, becoming a major transit point for people attempting to reach Europe. Authorities have ramped up security measures and imposed stricter laws against irregular migration networks, leading to the deportation of thousands of migrants. Rights advocates warn that this crackdown threatens to hinder humanitarian efforts and restrict independent advocacy.
Since President Saied dissolved parliament in 2021, opposition figures and rights groups have expressed concerns about a steady erosion of rights and freedoms in the North African country. Mosbah's lawyer stated, The verdict is a major shock and part of a broader effort to dismantle civil society groups and shift responsibility for the state's failure to address the migrant issue onto these groups.
In recent developments, Mosbah's son was sentenced to three years in prison, and another activist received a two-year term. A day prior to the hearing, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the World Organisation Against Torture called for her immediate release, citing her age and health concerns. They highlighted that her prosecution is part of a larger pattern of intensified repression against civil society, with new restrictions impacting organizations working on migrant issues.
The case unfolds as Tunisia is facing increasing pressures concerning rising migration flows from Africa, becoming a major transit point for people attempting to reach Europe. Authorities have ramped up security measures and imposed stricter laws against irregular migration networks, leading to the deportation of thousands of migrants. Rights advocates warn that this crackdown threatens to hinder humanitarian efforts and restrict independent advocacy.
