Critic Of President Jailed Over ‘Racist Country’ Comment
This conviction stems from clashes between migrants and locals, and it’s not her first run-in with the law. Dahmani has been in prison since May and received an additional eight-month sentence in September for saying Tunisia isn’t a great place to live.
Tunisian lawyer Sonia Dahmani has been sentenced to two years in prison for calling Tunisia a “racist country” on local radio.
This conviction stems from clashes between migrants and locals, and it’s not her first run-in with the law. Dahmani has been in prison since May and received an additional eight-month sentence in September for saying Tunisia isn’t a great place to live.
Her comments likely referred to the surge in racist attacks against Black African migrants and refugees following President Kais Saied’s speech in February. The speech was widely criticized for fueling anti-immigrant violence, with many reporting assaults, robberies, and vandalism.
This sentencing comes on the heels of President Saied’s re-election, which opponents claim was a sham. Saied has been accused of carrying out a coup when he dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree in 2021. The opposition is calling for calm and the release of political prisoners and journalists.
Meanwhile, a lawyer Sami Ben Ghazi, who confirmed the development to Reuters, has condemned the repression of critical voices in the country.
Last week, another court sentenced prominent opposition figure Noureddine Bhiri, opens new tab to 10 years in prison for inciting disobedience.
It’s worth noting that Tunisia has a law that criminalizes racial discrimination, and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination obligates countries to condemn and eliminate racial discrimination.
Despite this, the recent wave of violence and arrests targeting Black African foreigners has raised concerns about racism and xenophobia in the country.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/critic-tunisian-president-jailed-over-racist-country-comment-lawyer-says-2024-10-24/
