A Tunis Court of Appeal has confirmed an eight-year prison sentence against prominent anti-racist activist Saadia Mosbah, bringing a high-profile legal case to a decisive and controversial conclusion.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, after judges upheld the original verdict issued at first instance in March, which also imposed a fine of approximately €30,000. The decision followed several hours of deliberation before the Court affirmed the initial judgment without modification.
Saadia Mosbah, president of the anti-racist association Mnemty, was arrested in March 2024 and later convicted on charges including money laundering and illicit enrichment. Her case has drawn sustained domestic and international attention, with rights groups and supporters calling for her release and the dismissal of all charges.
Mosbah has been a prominent figure in Tunisia’s civil society landscape, particularly known for her advocacy against racism and for migrant rights. She played a key role in campaigns that contributed to Tunisia’s adoption of a landmark anti-racism law in 2018, regarded as one of the first of its kind in the Maghreb region.
Her detention intensified following political tensions in 2023, when President Kaïs Saied delivered remarks criticising irregular migration and referencing concerns over demographic change, statements that were widely debated within and beyond Tunisia.
According to her legal team, Mosbah’s health has deteriorated significantly during her period of detention. Her case has also attracted support movements in Tunisia and France, which had been hoping for her immediate release following the appeal.
The Court’s decision effectively prolongs her imprisonment, closing a key avenue of legal challenge while leaving her supporters and human rights observers awaiting further developments.
