Ten activists sentenced in Tunisia

Ten environmental activists in Tunisia were sentenced to prison for participating in a 2020 demonstration against pollution in the coastal city of Gabès. The demonstration targeted a local phosphate processing plant, which residents accuse of causing health issues through its polluting practices.

Sentences vary among activists

According to their lawyer, eight of the activists received six-month prison sentences with probation, while the other two were sentenced to one year in prison. The activists had been arrested and released in 2020 but believed the legal proceedings had been dropped.

Legal process continued in their absence

The activists learned this year that they had been sentenced in absentia in 2023, meaning the court issued a ruling without their presence. They were later retried in person, which added to the legal complexity of their case.

Residents protest industrial pollution

For years, residents of Gabès have raised concerns about the plant’s discharges, which they link to serious health problems. Researchers have found radioactive substances in some industrial waste from the facility, adding to the environmental concerns.

Judiciary rejects suspension request

In February, the judiciary denied a request to suspend the operations of the phosphate plant. This decision came despite ongoing legal and environmental challenges surrounding the facility’s impact on the local population.

Tunisia seeks to boost phosphate production

Despite the controversy, the Tunisian government plans to restart the phosphate industry, which it considers vital to the national economy. The goal is to increase phosphate production by more than four times by 2030, driven by rising global demand for fertilizers.