A Tunisian court has released a group of humanitarian workers who were accused of helping migrants enter and stay in the country illegally. Among those freed is Sherifa Riahi, the former director of the French NGO Terre d’Asile. The court handed the defendants two-year suspended sentences.
By the time the final ruling was delivered, the NGO workers had already spent more than 20 months in prison. Shortly after the hearing, a support group shared a video showing Riahi leaving jail, confirming that her colleagues had also been released.
The case involved a total of 23 defendants, including 17 municipal workers from the city of Sousse who were accused of providing buildings used by the organisation. Prosecutors had charged them with conspiracy and aiding migrants who entered the country without authorization. The charges carried possible prison sentences of up to 10 years.
Lawyers representing the defendants argued that the workers were only carrying out humanitarian duties under programmes approved by the Tunisian government. They said the aid was provided openly and in coordination with state authorities. Earlier accusations related to financial wrongdoing were dropped before the final hearing.
On the day of the verdict, a small group of supporters gathered outside the court to show solidarity with the defendants. The trial attracted international attention, with the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, calling for Riahi’s release and warning against what she described as questionable charges.
Migration remains a sensitive and politically charged issue in Tunisia, which serves as a major transit point for migrants trying to reach Europe. The arrests took place in May 2024, during a period of rising tension following statements by President Kais Saied in 2023 describing irregular migration as a threat to the country.
Those remarks were followed by reports of racial attacks, forced evictions, and mass expulsions of sub-Saharan migrants. Many were pushed toward dangerous sea crossings or abandoned near desert borders with Algeria and Libya, where several deaths were reported.
The court’s decision to release the NGO workers comes as the European Union continues efforts to reduce migration flows, including a €255 million deal with Tunisia. Human rights groups say the ruling is an important moment for migrant advocacy and humanitarian work in the country.