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, who 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 seen as a 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, according to Mosbah's lawyer, Hela Ben Salem.
Authorities last year ordered the suspension of activities of leading civil society organizations, 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 received a three-year prison sentence, while another campaigner received a two-year term.
A day before the hearing, calls for her immediate release were made by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the World Organisation Against Torture, citing concerns over her age and health.
These organizations expressed that her prosecution is part of a wider pattern of intensifying repression of civil society in Tunisia, highlighting cases against rights defenders, smear campaigns by the media, and new restrictions on NGOs operating in migration sectors.
The situation comes as Tunisia faces an increase in migration flows from across Africa, becoming a key transit point for individuals attempting to reach Europe. In response, Tunisian authorities have escalated security measures and tightened regulations, leading to the deportation of thousands of migrants.
Rights groups caution that the current crackdown could further impede humanitarian efforts and diminish the space for independent advocacy in the nation.
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