The Tunis Appeals Court is scheduled to hear the case of Saadia Mosbah, the president of the anti-racism organization Mnemty, and five of her colleagues on 19 June. The defendants were previously convicted in the Tunis Court of First Instance on 19 March 2026 on charges of money laundering and “illicit enrichment,” resulting in prison sentences and significant financial penalties.
### The March 2026 Convictions
On 19 March, the court sentenced Mosbah to eight years in prison and imposed a fine of approximately TND 122,000, equivalent to roughly EUR 36,000. Five other staff members and collaborators associated with Mnemty received prison terms ranging from one to three years, alongside fines reaching up to TND 64,000. One of the convicted individuals was tried in absentia.
According to Amnesty International, the investigative judge overseeing the case failed to produce evidence linking the organization’s funding to illegal sources. The organization asserts that the court relied on an ambiguous application of “illicit enrichment” statutes to secure the convictions.
### Human Rights Concerns and Detention Conditions
Legal proceedings against the Mnemty staff have been characterized by reports of mistreatment. Amnesty International researcher Safia Rayan stated that the organization has received reports of Mosbah being subjected to racial discrimination and physical assault while in custody. The group claims these incidents, which have not been formally investigated by Tunisian authorities, may reach the threshold of torture.
Furthermore, reports indicate that two additional Black defendants experienced racial discrimination during the initial investigation. These allegations were reportedly raised during the trial but were not addressed by the presiding judicial authorities.
### Context of the Crackdown
The prosecution of Mnemty occurs amid a broader series of legal actions against civil society in Tunisia. Since 2023, government officials, including President Kais Saied, have publicly criticized non-governmental organizations, particularly those involved in migration advocacy and anti-discrimination efforts.
This rhetoric has been accompanied by a surge in state-led efforts to dissolve various NGOs. The government initiated separate proceedings to dissolve Mnemty on 11 May, a process that remains ongoing. These efforts are part of a larger trend; multiple other NGO workers have faced similar convictions, which civil society monitors describe as a systematic restriction of the right to freedom of association.
### Upcoming Legal Proceedings
The appeal trial, which was initially set for 19 May, was postponed twice before being set for 19 June. Amnesty International has formally requested that the Tunisian authorities immediately release the defendants and overturn the convictions. The government has not yet provided a public response to these calls, and the appeal hearing remains the next procedural step in the case.
