Tunisian campaigner against racial discrimination handed eight-year jail term

Saadia Mosbah, a prominent Tunisian anti-racism activist, has been handed an eight-year prison sentence, according to her lawyer, after being detained for nearly two years on financial misconduct charges.

Mosbah, 66, had been a leading figure in defending sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, particularly following a 2023 speech by President Kais Saied in which he described "hordes of illegal migrants" as a demographic threat.

As the head of the Mnemty anti-racism association, Mosbah was arrested in May 2024 and investigated for money laundering, as reported by the media at the time.

During Thursday's hearing, Mosbah's lawyers, who were representing her and other members of the association on charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment, maintained their clients' innocence.

Lawyer Ben Salem expressed shock at the ruling, stating that it was unrelated to the case and sent a clear message that civil society work is viewed with suspicion under the current regime, and announced plans to appeal the decision immediately.

Mosbah's son received a three-year prison sentence, while another activist was given a two-year sentence, in a ruling that has sparked concern among human rights groups.

A day prior to the hearing, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and World Organisation Against Torture had called for Mosbah's immediate release, citing her age and health condition, and arguing that her prosecution was part of a broader context of repression of civil society in Tunisia.

The two organizations stated that Mosbah's case was emblematic of a growing trend of repression in Tunisia, marked by cases against rights defenders, media "smear campaigns", and restrictions on NGOs working on migration issues.

Since President Saied's power grab in 2021, opposition figures and rights groups have spoken out against the erosion of rights and liberties in the North African country.