TUNIS-(MaraviPost)-A Tunisian court has handed an eight-year prison sentence to Saadia Mosbah, a prominent anti-racism activist, on charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment.
The 66-year-old leader of the Mnèmty group had been a vocal advocate for sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, and her arrest in May 2024 has sparked widespread concern about the government’s crackdown on dissent.
Mosbah’s lawyer, Hela Ben Salem, condemned the verdict as 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 and civil society groups.
The authorities have been accused of intensifying repression, with opposition figures and rights groups warning of a steady erosion of rights and freedoms in the North African country.
The case against Mosbah is seen as part of a broader pattern of repression, with the government cracking down on independent voices and restricting the activities of NGOs working on migration issues.
The Tunisian government has also introduced tougher legal measures targeting irregular migration networks and deported thousands of migrants to their home countries.
Rights groups have warned that the crackdown risks further hindering humanitarian work and narrowing the space for independent advocacy.
The international community has been urged to take action, with the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the World Organisation Against Torture calling for Mosbah’s immediate release, citing her age and health concerns.
The verdict has sparked concerns about the future of human rights in Tunisia, particularly as the country faces mounting pressure over rising migration flows from across Africa.
