Freedom for Saadia Mosbah
No to racism in all its forms
On the evening of Thursday, March 19, the Court of First Instance in Tunis issued shocking and unjust verdicts in the so-called “Mnemty” Association case. Activist Saadia Mosbah—who has been detained for 681 days—is being prosecuted alongside eight other activists from the association who remain free, solely for their legitimate work in combating racism and hate speech.
The court sentenced Saadia Mosbah to eight years of immediate imprisonment, while the other activists received sentences ranging from one to three years. This ruling represents a serious blow to the principles of justice and the freedom of civic action.
Despite the defense team’s strong and well-founded arguments, which clearly exposed serious legal violations and the absence of evidence supporting the charges, these verdicts were delivered in blatant disregard for the fundamental principles of a fair trial.
Saadia Mosbah’s arrest must also be understood within a broader context, where narratives are being used to justify unjust policies aligned with European Union migration control agendas—policies that risk turning Tunisia into a hostile environment for migrants and for those who stand in solidarity with them, effectively contributing to the externalization of European border control.
This trial takes place amid an alarming rise in disinformation, incitement, and racist campaigns on social media. Hate speech is being systematically amplified in a climate of impunity. These campaigns not only poison public discourse but also create the conditions for repressing all forms of civic, political, and solidarity-based action, revealing a dangerous convergence between hate speech and certain state practices.
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights:
• Expresses its deep shock and profound anger at these unjust rulings.
• Reaffirms its full and unconditional solidarity with Saadia Mosbah, all activists of the “Mnemty” Association, and their families, in the face of structural racism, institutional harassment, and sustained hate campaigns.
• Takes pride in the historic role played by Saadia Mosbah and the association in resisting racism and defending human dignity in Tunisia.
• Calls for the immediate release of Saadia Mosbah and the dropping of all charges against the association’s activists.
• Affirms that the struggle for freedom, justice, democracy, and dignity will prevail over repression and persecution, and that history will honor the resilience and sacrifices of all those who stand against injustice.
Freedom for Saadia Mosbah
Freedom for all the oppressed
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights
President Abdelrahman Hedhili
