Omanghana
A Tunisian appellate court has upheld the eight-year prison sentence handed to prominent anti-racism campaigner Saadia Mosbah, reinforcing a ruling that has drawn widespread criticism from defense lawyers and international human rights organizations.
The June 23, 2026, decision confirms a conviction issued earlier this year and has intensified concerns over the shrinking space for civil society and human rights advocacy in Tunisia.
Activist Convicted on Financial Charges
Mosbah, a 66-year-old Black Tunisian activist, is the president of Mnemty (“My Dream”), an organization that advocates for the rights of Black Tunisians and sub-Saharan African migrants.
In March, the Tunis Court of First Instance found her guilty of money laundering and illicit enrichment, sentencing her to eight years in prison and imposing a fine of 122,000 Tunisian dinars, equivalent to approximately $39,000.
Five other individuals associated with Mnemty, including Mosbah’s son, also received prison terms ranging from one to three years as part of the same case.
Rights Groups Question Evidence
Human rights organizations and members of Mosbah’s legal team have strongly disputed the verdict, arguing that prosecutors failed to provide credible evidence of financial misconduct.
According to critics of the ruling, the case relied on allegations they describe as unsubstantiated and was instead aimed at suppressing independent civil society organizations and activists.
International observers have characterized the prosecution as part of a broader pattern of pressure on organizations working on human rights and migrant issues in Tunisia.
Links to Anti-Migrant Tensions
Defense lawyers contend that Mosbah came under increased scrutiny after publicly criticizing remarks made by President Kais Saied in 2023 regarding irregular migration from sub-Saharan Africa.
The president’s comments sparked significant controversy and were followed by reports of heightened tensions and discrimination directed at migrants and Black communities within Tunisia.
Mosbah herself reportedly became the subject of online harassment before being arrested in May 2024 during a wider government operation targeting non-governmental organizations involved in providing humanitarian assistance to undocumented migrants.
Concerns Over Prison Conditions
Human rights advocates have also expressed concern about Mosbah’s treatment while in custody.
Organizations monitoring the case have cited reports alleging that she has experienced racist abuse and physical mistreatment in prison, prompting calls for an independent investigation into her conditions of detention and the protection of her rights.
Part of a Broader Political Climate
The ruling comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Tunisia’s political and judicial landscape following President Saied’s consolidation of power after dissolving parliament in 2021.
In recent years, courts have issued prison sentences against several political opponents, lawyers, and civil society figures, developments that critics say reflect increasing restrictions on dissent. Government supporters, however, have maintained that judicial proceedings are conducted in accordance with national law and are aimed at upholding accountability and public order.
The appellate court’s decision leaves Mosbah’s conviction in place, adding another high-profile chapter to the debate over human rights, governance, and the role of civil society in Tunisia.
Source: Omanghana
