A Tunisian court on Thursday sentenced prominent anti-racism activist Saadia Mosbah to eight years in prison on charges of financial misconduct, a ruling her lawyer immediately condemned as politically motivated. The verdict, which also included prison terms for her son and another associate, is seen by rights groups as part of a wider state crackdown on civil society in the North African nation.
Mosbah, 66, is the head of the Mnemty association, which advocates against racial discrimination and for the rights of sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia. She had been in pre-trial detention for nearly two months following her arrest in May 2024 on accusations of money laundering and illicit enrichment. Her case gained significant attention after President Kais Saied’s 2023 speech denouncing irregular migration as a deliberate demographic threat, following which Mosbah became a vocal defender of migrant communities.
During the hearing, several other members of her association denied any wrongdoing. Mosbah’s 33-year-old son was sentenced to three years in prison, while another activist received a two-year term. The presiding judge handed down the sentences after a trial that国际合作 rights organizations had previously criticized.
Mosbah’s legal representative, Mokhtar Ben Salem, described the eight-year sentence as “shocking” and unrelated to the evidence presented. He announced an immediate appeal, stating the ruling sent a clear message that civil society work is now treated with suspicion under the current administration. “This is not a judicial decision; it is a political one,” Ben Salem told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The verdict comes a day after a coalition of local and international human rights groups issued an urgent call for Mosbah’s release, citing her advanced age and precarious health. They framed her prosecution as symptomatic of “a context of growing repression of civil society,” highlighting recent cases against other rights defenders, smear campaigns in pro-government media, and restrictive measures targeting migration-focused NGOs.
This pattern of pressure has intensified since President Saied’s 2021 suspension of parliament and consolidation of power. Rights monitors have consistently documented a deteriorating environment for freedoms of association, expression, and assembly in Tunisia, a country once viewed as a regional democratic exception. Thursday’s sentencing of a veteran activist known for her anti-racism work underscores the escalating risks for civil society actors. The appeal process is expected to proceed in the coming weeks, while international attention focuses on Tunisia’s compliance with its human rights obligations.
