Photo credit: France 24
A prominent Tunisian advocate for migrants is in custody, and anti-terrorist investigators are handling his case.
The New Arab reports that, according to the head of a rights group, this is a disturbing first for the country.
Tunisia is one of the main launching points for boats carrying migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to seek better lives in Europe.
Romdhane Ben Amor, spokesman for the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights, said Abdallah Said, a Tunisian of Chadian origin, was quizzed along with the secretary general and treasurer of his association, Children of the Medenine Moon. Two officers of a bank handling the association’s accounts were also detained.
Ben Amor described the case transfer to anti-terrorist investigators as a “dangerous signal” because it was the first time authorities had used this against associations specializing in migration issues.
La Presse newspaper, which is close to the government, reported that five activists operating on behalf of an association in Medenine were in custody to be referred to anti-terrorism investigators.
According to the newspaper, the association is suspected of receiving foreign funds “to assist sub-Saharan migrants to enter illegally onto Tunisian soil”.
Ben Amor said, “It’s a message to all those working in solidarity with the migrants.”
