Families of jailed pro-migrant activists in Tunisia appeal for their release. Activists have been imprisoned since May for humanitarian work. Romdhane Ben Amor criticizes government actions that undermine migrant support and the silencing from the EU on this issue.
Families of ten detained Tunisian pro-migrant activists have made a public appeal for their release. The activists have been imprisoned since May, with Romdhane Ben Amor, head of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), asserting that they were engaged in humanitarian efforts rather than political activities. He criticized the government for criminalizing their work to undermine migrant and refugee support, pushing them towards “voluntary returns” through the UN’s International Organization for Migration.
Tunisia has become a significant transit location for African migrants aiming to reach Europe via the Mediterranean. In 2023, President Kais Saied condemned sub-Saharan migrants, alleging they threaten demographics, instigating a crackdown that resulted in the activists’ arrests. The families regard their detention as unjust, with Emna Riahi highlighting her daughter Sherifa’s wrongful imprisonment after charges against her were dismissed.
Among the family members backing the activists’ cause is also the family of Mustapha Djemali. The 80-year-old refugee rights advocate has lost 35 kilograms (77 pounds) in prison and claims to have been without essential medication for months. Ben Amor condemned the authorities for using the detention of activists to validate the president’s anti-migrant stance, while criticizing the silence from both the European Union and international bodies regarding these events.
The ongoing detention of ten Tunisian pro-migrant activists has raised significant human rights concerns. Families urge for their release, emphasizing the humanitarian basis of their work. Accusations of using these detentions to fuel anti-migrant sentiments highlight the broader socio-political challenges in Tunisia, necessitating attention from international organizations to uphold migrant rights.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
