Tunisia Throws Human Rights Defenders in Prison for 25 Years, Hits Them with $600 Million Fine

Tunisia Throws Human Rights Defenders in Prison for 25 Years, Hits Them with $600 Million Fine

Tunisia is locking up its own human rights heroes and slapping them with massive fines, in a blatant crackdown on anyone who dares to challenge President Kais Saied’s grip on power.

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A Tunisian court has sentenced Sihem Bensedrine, the 75-year-old former head of the Truth and Dignity Commission, to 25 years in prison and ordered her to pay a staggering $600 million joint fine [191441]. Just days earlier, another court handed Saadia Mosbah, president of the antiracism group Mnemty, an eight-year sentence [191441]. Five other members of Mosbah’s group received prison terms ranging from one to three years [191441].

Human Rights Watch says these cases are part of a “systematic repression” targeting journalists, political opponents, and independent lawyers [191799]. The group warns that Tunisia has slid back into authoritarian rule, crushing civil society groups that were once the pride of the Arab Spring [191799].

Bensedrine, who spent years exposing decades of human rights abuses under previous dictators, was convicted on charges of fraud and forgery related to her commission’s final report, as well as using her position for unfair advantage over a reconciliation deal with a former president’s son-in-law [191441]. She has strongly criticized President Saied and remains free pending an appeal [191441].

Mosbah, who is Black and helped pass Tunisia’s 2018 law against racial discrimination, was convicted of illicit enrichment and money laundering after a racist online smear campaign from pro-government accounts [191441]. Her family says she faced racist attacks from inmates and guards while in detention [191441].

Tunisia is a party to international treaties guaranteeing freedom of expression and fair trials [191441]. The United Nations has urged the government to protect civil society groups, but the courts are instead dismantling them [191441].

Sources

Tunisia Jails Rights Defenders 25 Years, Fines $600 Million #191441Tunisia: ‘Systematic Repression’ Targets Journalists and Lawyers #191799

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