The NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the Tunisian authorities, through a statement on Friday, to urgently provide protection to black African migrants who face violent attacks by Tunisian citizens, since President Kais Saied made discriminatory remarks against these foreigners.
The human rights organization believes that the measures announced on March 5 by Tunis fall far short of the actions needed to end the recent wave of violent attacks, thefts, acts of vandalism, arbitrary evictions by landlords and unfair dismissals by employers since Saied’s speech.
“After stoking violence against immigrants himself, President Saied has offered only meager measures to try to end it,” said Salsabil Chellali, director of HRW’s office in Tunis.
And to continue, “Tunisian authorities should immediately stop arresting black African foreigners, study cases on a case-by-case basis to ensure due process for all those arrested, release those arbitrarily detained, promptly investigate and hold responsible for racist attacks and abuses”.
According to testimonies collected, among those arrested since the speech of the Head of State, there were people in both regular and irregular situations. The Association of African Students and Trainees in Tunisia (AESAT) said at least 44 students had been arrested, and some are still being held.
In addition, the NGO is also calling for legal action against the attackers. She recalls that the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to which Tunisia is a state party, obliges countries to “condemn racial discrimination” and to take measures aimed at “eliminating racial discrimination under all its forms and to promote understanding among all races.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1086 of 13/03/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
