Tunisia: No to the criminalization of solidarity with migrants.

November 26, 2024
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Call for solidarity with Abdallah Said

Call for solidarity with Abdallah Said

On November 12, 2024, Abdallah Said, activist and president of the Association Enfants de la Lune de Médenine, was taken into custody by the Tunisian Financial Investigation Unit. After lengthy questioning, the charges against him remain unclear, but seem to relate mainly to his humanitarian commitment to refugee, migrant and abandoned children in the Médenine region.

This event takes place against a worrying backdrop of criminalization of solidarity in Tunisia, which has intensified since May 2024. At that time, repression had already targeted several leading figures and humanitarian organizations supporting migrants, notably with the arrest of Saadia Mosbah, president of the Mnemty association, and Sherifa Riahi, former director of Tunisie Terre d'Asile, as well as members of the Tunisian Council for Refugees and other activists linked to solidarity with migrants*. These arrests illustrate an authoritarian drift aimed at silencing any criticism of government policies or humanitarian aid in relation to sub-Saharan migrants.

This repression coincided with hate campaigns and racist discourse, fueled by official declarations at the highest level of the State. Tunisian government, describing sub-Saharan migrants as a "threat" to Tunisia's national identity. This rhetoric has had devastating consequences: forced expulsions, collective deportations to the Libyan desert and targeted repression against those who oppose these racist and inhumane practices.

Abdallah Said: another example of the criminalization of solidarity

Abdallah Said, a Tunisian citizen of Chadian origin, has been campaigning for years for the defense of human rights and the protection of migrant and refugee children. Through his association, Les Enfants de la Lune, he has always taken care of disabled Tunisian children and migrants. Her only "crime" is her commitment to the most vulnerable, in strict compliance with Tunisian laws, with local and international recognition.

His arrest is yet another example of a repressive strategy targeting those who defend human rights and support migrants. This policy, initiated in Tunisia under the pretext of a fabricated "migration emergency", has resulted in arbitrary arrests*, hate campaigns on social networks and increasing criminalization of the work of humanitarian organizations.

We underline the political nature of Abdallah Saïd's arrest, in contradiction with Tunisia's international commitments. We ask :

The immediate release of Abdallah Said and all detainees prosecuted for their humanitarian work. *
An end to persecution of organizations and individuals showing solidarity with migrants.
Respect for human rights, dignity and international legal standards, particularly with regard to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

We call on all Maghrebian, French, European and international organizations sharing the values of solidarity and human rights to denounce this repressive drift and actively support those who, like Abdallah Said, are persecuted for their commitment to solidarity with migrants.

Dignity for refugees and migrants.

*Sherifa Riahi, former director of "Terre d'asile Tunisie" (2016-2021/2022), placed in police custody on May 8, 2024 on suspicion of money laundering. Subsequently, two other people were arrested in connection with the same case: Iyadh Bousselmi, current director of "Terre d'asile Tunisie", and Mohamed Jouou, financial manager.

*Saadia Mosbah , anti-racist activist and president of Mnemty, arrested in early May 2024 and prosecuted for money laundering, in a context of repression of critical associations.

*Mustafa Jamali, president of the Tunisian Council for Refugees, and Abdelrazek Krimi, project manager with the same council, were arrested in May 2023, accused of illegally housing foreigners and receiving foreign funding.

*Abdallah Saïd, founder of "Les Enfants de la Lune", was arrested on November 12, 2024 and transferred to the anti-terrorist unit, accused of receiving foreign funds to help migrants. (2 leaders of the association were also arrested at the same time).

First signatories :

International Organizations

Migreurop
Euromed Rights
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Euromed France Network (REF)
Maghreb Coordination of Human Rights Organizations (CMODH)

Trade unions

General Confederation of Labor(CGT)
French Democratic Labor Confederation(CFDT)
Fédération syndicale unitaire(FSU)
National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions(UNSA)
Union syndicale solidaires(SUD)

North African, French, European and international organizations

Action Jeunesse - Morocco
Association of Citizens from Turkey (ACORT)
Association for the Defense of Human Rights in Morocco (ASDHOM)
Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH)
Association of Moroccans in France (AMF)
Association N'aoura - Brussels
Association des refoulés d'Afrique-centrale au Mali (ARACEM) - Mali
Association des Travailleurs Maghrébins de France (ATMF)
Association des médecins français pourla prévention de la guerre nucléaire (AMFPGN) (IPPNW member, Nobel Peace Prize)
Associazione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana - Italian association for leisure and culture(ARCI) - Italy
Aswat Media Network - Libya - Aswat Media Network - Libya
Attac France
Cédetim / IPAM
The Centre for Peace Studies - Zagreb - Le Centre d'études pour la paix - Zagreb
Lixus Center for Young Researchers - Morocco
International Coalition of Undocumented Migrants (CISPM)
Collective of sub-Saharan communities in Morocco (CCSM)
Collectif Sans papiers 75 (CSP-75)
Collectif associatif pour l'observation des élections (CAOE) - Morocco
Regional Collective for North-South Cooperation - Hauts de France (CORENS)
Support Committee for the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights
(CS-LADDH) - Algeria
Belgian National Center for Cooperation and Development (CNCD-11.11.11)
Droit aux Logements (DAL)
Law here and there (DIEL)
Egyptian Front for Human Rights (EFHR) - Front égyptien pour les droits de l'homme (EFHR) - Egypt
E-joussour Maghreb civil society portal/Machrek - Morocco
Ensemble Vivre Travailler et Coopérer de Saint Denis (EVTC)
Plural women
Copernicus Foundation
Frantz Fanon Foundation(FFF)
Forum des alternatives Maroc (FMAS) - Morocco
Forum France Algérie (FFA)
France Fraternité (FF)
Immigrant information and support group(GISTI)
HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement to the statement in the MENA -HuMENA pour les droits de l'homme et l'engagement civique au Moyen Orient
Iridia-center for the defense of human rights - Barcelona - Espana
Human Rights League (LDH)
Migration, Asylum, Racism Discrimination and Trffiking (KISA-Cyprus) - Cyprus
Movement against racism and for friendship between peoples(MRAP)
New Woman Foundation - Egypt
Moroccan Observatory of Public Liberties (OMLP) - Morocco
Moroccan Observatory of Social Protection - Morocco
Organization for freedom of information and expression (OLIE) Hatim - Morocco
People in Need, Czech Republic
For a Democratic Alternative in Algeria (PADA)
Ruptures" feminist network
Riposte Internationale (RI)
Statewatch - London - UK
SOS migrants - Belgium
SOS Racisme
We at Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) - Libya
Mediterranea saving humans - Italy
OnBorders e Baobab Experience - Italy
Convenzione per i diritti nel Mediterraneo - Italy
Melitea - Italy
LasciateCIEntrare - Italy
Mai più Lager No ai Cpr aderisce! - Italy
The Routes Journal di sicuro - Italy
OnBorders - Italy