Leading anti‑racism activist in Tunisia jailed for eight years

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Rights groups say the case signals a worsening crackdown on people who speak out against the authorities

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, had been 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, particularly after a 2023 speech by President Kais Saied, which described “hordes of illegal migrants” as a demographic threat.

Since President Saied dissolved parliament in 2021, opposition figures and rights groups have warned of a steady erosion of rights and freedoms in the North African country.

“The verdict is a major shock, and it is 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,” Mosbah’s lawyer, Hela Ben Salem, told Reuters.

Authorities last year ordered the suspension of activities of leading civil society organisations - including the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights and the Association of Democratic Women, both recognised for their defence of civil liberties - citing financial audits linked to foreign funding.

During Thursday’s hearing, lawyers for Mosbah - who was tried alongside other activists - argued that their clients were innocent.

Mosbah’s son was also sentenced to three years in prison, while another campaigner received a two-year term, AFP reports.

A day before the hearing, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the World Organisation Against Torture called on Tunisian authorities to release Mosbah immediately, citing her age and health concerns, AFP reports.

In their statement, they said her prosecution formed “part of a broader pattern of intensifying repression of civil society in Tunisia,” citing cases brought against rights defenders, media “smear campaigns” and new restrictions on NGOs working on migration.

The case comes as Tunisia faces mounting pressure over rising migration flows from across Africa, with the country becoming a major transit point for people trying to reach Europe.

In response, authorities have stepped up security and introduced tougher legal measures targeting irregular migration networks, deporting thousands of migrants to their home countries.

Rights groups warn the crackdown risks further hindering humanitarian work and narrowing the space for independent advocacy.

More about Tunisia from the BBC:

‘My black skin says I don’t belong in Tunisia’

‘I lost the will to leave home because of racist slur’

Why Tunisia’s president picked on black migrants

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