Tunisia_ The case of activist Saadia Mosbah's arrest and imprisonment reflects escalating pressures on civil work and growing risks facing human rights defenders in the country, with civil liberties advocates considering the case a worrying indicator of the declining protection of fundamental rights.

Amnesty International condemned the Tunisian Court of Appeal's decision, issued on June 23, which upheld the unjust initial verdict against prominent Tunisian anti-racism activist Saadia Mosbah, President of the Mnemty Association, and the penalties imposed on its members and collaborators.

The organization affirmed yesterday, Wednesday, June 24, that upholding the eight-year prison sentence and fines against Saadia Mosbah represents a serious setback for justice, the right to a fair trial, and a clear message of intimidation to all human rights defenders, particularly those working in the field of combating racism and defending the rights of migrants and Black people in Tunisia.

It noted that this ruling cannot be separated from the broader context of tightening restrictions on civil society, and that vague financial charges lacking serious evidence have been used to target associations and activists, and to criminalize solidarity and legitimate human rights work.

The organization considered the ruling against Saadia Mosbah a violation of the principle of public hearings, after her representatives, along with representatives of other civil society organizations, were prevented from attending trial sessions on June 19 and 23. The organization viewed this exclusion as raising serious concerns about fair trial guarantees and the transparency of judicial proceedings.

Amnesty International called on the Tunisian authorities to release Saadia Mosbah immediately and unconditionally, to overturn her conviction and that of her colleagues at the Mnemty Association, to guarantee their full right to a fair trial, to conduct a serious and independent investigation into all allegations of racism and mistreatment inside prison, and to put an end to the use of the judiciary as a tool to criminalize human rights work and restrict civil society.