Tunisian Anti-Racism Advocate Sentenced: A Harbinger of Increasing Repression

Fri Mar 20 2026 16:28:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Saadia Mosbah, a prominent human rights activist in Tunisia, has been sentenced to eight years in prison, sparking outrage and concern over the erosion of civil liberties in the country.

Saadia Mosbah, the head of the anti-racism organization Mnèmty, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for alleged corruption charges. This ruling is seen as part of a larger trend of suppressing civil society and dissent in Tunisia under President Kais Saied, especially following his controversial remarks regarding sub-Saharan migrants.

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, was charged with money laundering and illicit enrichment and was arrested in May 2024.

The 66-year-old has long been a prominent advocate for sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, especially after President Kais Saied's 2023 speech describing 'hordes of illegal migrants' as a demographic threat.

Since President Saied dissolved parliament in 2021, opposition figures and rights groups have warned about a continuous erosion of rights and freedoms in Tunisia.

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, stated Mosbah's lawyer, Hela Ben Salem.

Last year, authorities ordered the suspension of key civil society organizations, including the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights and the Association of Democratic Women, citing financial audits concerning foreign funding.

During the recent trial, Mosbah's defense team maintained their innocence. Her son received a three-year prison sentence, while another campaigner was sentenced to two years.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the World Organisation Against Torture have called for her immediate release, emphasizing her age and health concerns.

In their statements, these organizations highlighted a pattern of repression against civil society in Tunisia, including cases against rights defenders and new restrictions on NGOs focusing on migration.

This incident comes amid rising migration flow pressures on Tunisia, which is becoming a key transit point for migrants aiming for Europe.

In response, the Tunisian government has intensified security measures and implemented stricter legal actions targeting irregular migration networks, deporting thousands of migrants back to their home countries.

Rights groups warn that such crackdowns risk impairing humanitarian efforts and constraining independent advocacy.