Tunisian Activist Saadia Mosbah Sentenced to Eight Years

Saadia Mosbah, a 66-year-old leading anti-racism activist and head of the group MNMTY, has been sentenced to eight years in prison and fined 26,000 dinars (approximately $35,000) by a Tunisian court. Mosbah was charged with money laundering and illicit enrichment, with her arrest occurring in May 2024.

She has been a long-time advocate for the rights of Sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, particularly following a speech by President Kais Saied in 2023 that described irregular migrants as a demographic threat. The verdict has been met with shock and is viewed as part of a broader effort to dismantle civil society in Tunisia, shifting responsibility for the state's failure to address migration issues onto civil society groups.

Mosbah's lawyer, Hela Ben Salem, stated that the prosecution is part of a pattern of repression against civil society. Mosbah's son received a three-year prison sentence, while another activist was given a two-year term.

Human rights organizations have called for Mosbah's immediate release, citing health concerns.