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.
The authorities have suspended the activities of leading civil society organizations, including the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights and the Association of Democratic Women, for citing financial audits linked to foreign funding.
During the hearing, lawyers for Mosbah 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, according to AFP. Advocates for her release highlighted her age and health concerns as justifications for immediate release. They claim her prosecution contributes to an ongoing pattern of increasing repression against civil society.
This troubling case arrives as Tunisia faces mounting pressure over rising migration flows from across Africa, with the country becoming a significant transit point for individuals attempting to reach Europe. Authorities have responded with heightened security measures and stricter legal actions against irregular migration networks, resulting in the deportation of thousands of migrants. Rights groups warn that this crackdown could further stifle humanitarian work and limit independent advocacy efforts.
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.
The authorities have suspended the activities of leading civil society organizations, including the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights and the Association of Democratic Women, for citing financial audits linked to foreign funding.
During the hearing, lawyers for Mosbah 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, according to AFP. Advocates for her release highlighted her age and health concerns as justifications for immediate release. They claim her prosecution contributes to an ongoing pattern of increasing repression against civil society.
This troubling case arrives as Tunisia faces mounting pressure over rising migration flows from across Africa, with the country becoming a significant transit point for individuals attempting to reach Europe. Authorities have responded with heightened security measures and stricter legal actions against irregular migration networks, resulting in the deportation of thousands of migrants. Rights groups warn that this crackdown could further stifle humanitarian work and limit independent advocacy efforts.
