Against the Criminalization of Civil Activism and Human Solidarity
Freedom for Saadia Mosbah! Freedom for Salwa Ghrissa!
On Thursday, March 19, activist Saadia Mosbah will appear in court for the fourth time, alongside fellow activists from the “Mnemty” Association, before the Court of First Instance in Tunis. This appearance is part of a prolonged legal process that began with her arrest on May 7, 2024, following a meeting of the National Security Council, and in a context marked by sustained misleading and racially charged campaigns on social media.
Activist and academic Salwa Ghrissa, Executive Director of the “Exercising the Right to Dissent” association, is also appearing for the second time before the Court of First Instance in Tunis. This follows the opening of an investigation in the wake of widespread defamation and incitement campaigns targeting her personally, as well as the association. She was arrested on December 10, 2024.
These cases form part of a broader pattern aimed at intimidating civil society actors and human rights defenders, and at stigmatizing all forms of civic, humanitarian, and solidarity work. This pattern typically begins with smear and incitement campaigns and escalates into legal proceedings—often on financial or administrative grounds—used to discredit and silence activists.
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights:
Condemns the targeting of activists and defenders of human rights and solidarity, and considers it part of a systematic policy to silence dissenting voices.
Calls for the immediate release of Saadia Musbah and Salwa Gharsa, as well as all activists prosecuted on the basis of their civic and solidarity work, and reaffirms its absolute rejection of the criminalization of civil action and the transformation of solidarity into a crime.
Demands an end to all politically motivated legal proceedings against activists and guarantees their immediate dismissal.
Calls for an end to defamation, incitement, hatred, and racist campaigns carried out in a context of impunity.
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights reiterates its unwavering commitment to defending civic space, human dignity, and fundamental freedoms.
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights
President: Abdelrahman Hedhili
