In brief
Saadia Mosbah, head of the anti-racism group Mnèmty, has been sentenced to eight years in prison and fined for money laundering and illicit enrichment. Her sentence is viewed as part of a larger pattern of repression against civil society and opposition in Tunisia, especially following inflammatory remarks by President Kais Saied regarding migrants. The international community is watching closely as human rights groups raise alarms over the eroding freedoms in the country.
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 following a controversial speech by President Kais Saied in which he described 'hordes of illegal migrants' as a demographic threat.
Since President Saied dissolved parliament in 2021, opposition figures and rights groups have raised alarms over a steady erosion of rights and freedoms in the North African nation.
'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 case comes amid increasing pressure on Tunisia regarding rising migration flows from Africa, with the country becoming a significant transit point for individuals seeking to reach Europe. Authorities have intensified measures against irregular migration, resulting in thousands of deportations, further jeopardizing humanitarian endeavors and independent advocacy work.
