A Tunisian judicial authority has mandated the pre-trial incarceration of seven activists affiliated with the pro-Palestinian initiative Global Sumud, invoking the nation’s anti-terrorism legislation on grounds of alleged financial misconduct. The detained individuals, including prominent figures Wael Naouar, his spouse Jawaher Channa, Nabil Chennoufi, Mohamed Amine Bennour, and Sana M’hidli, were initially apprehended on March 6th following a tense encounter with security forces at Sidi Bou Said port.
Legal representative Sami Ben Ghazi confirmed to AFP that formal arrest warrants were issued after a ten-day police custody period, charging the group with orchestrating a ‘money laundering conspiracy.’ The allegations reportedly stem from fundraising activities conducted during the flotilla’s inaugural humanitarian mission to Gaza in September, though specific evidentiary details remain undisclosed.
The judicial proceedings have drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and civil society organizations. Mahdi Elleuch, a noted Tunisian activist, condemned the actions as systematic repression of political expression, stating: ‘The regime is repressing all forms of political and social activism, including in support of the Palestinian cause. It consistently employs fabricated charges through a compliant judiciary.’
Dissent manifested visibly as dozens of protesters congregated outside the Financial Judicial Centre, decrying the prosecution as politically motivated. This development occurs within a broader context of intensified governmental crackdowns following President Kais Saied’s 2021 power consolidation, which has witnessed mounting restrictions on civil liberties, press freedom, and organizational operations.
Global Sumud representatives characterized the detentions as representing ‘a troubling break with Tunisia’s long history of solidarity with the Palestinian people,’ particularly when combined with recent prohibitions on lawful assemblies. The organization, which coordinates maritime aid missions to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza, frames its activities as non-violent responses to humanitarian crisis conditions.
Amnesty International’s Tunisia division expressed grave concern regarding the ‘alarming arrests and increasing restrictions on peaceful gatherings,’ highlighting a deteriorating environment for human rights defenders. The incident precedes the group’s announced second aid convoy to Gaza, described as their largest humanitarian undertaking to date.