Rights groups decry Tunisian president's 'racist' remarks against migrants
International human rights groups have rebuked Tunisian President Kais Saied for making “racist remarks” against migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, calling for an independent probe into attacks fuelled by his rhetoric.
Prominent rights groups, including the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), on Thursday condemned the highly inflammatory remarks made by Saied that they claimed triggered a wave of violence against African migrants in Tunisia.
In a statement, FIDH said it had documented human rights violations including arbitrary arrests and detentions, assaults, evictions and dismissals in the weeks following Saied's remarks.
According to official figures, there are around 21,000 undocumented migrants from other parts of Africa in Tunisia, which is home to around 12 million people.
He said last month that migrants were responsible for most crime in the country and ordered officials to take “urgent measures” to tackle irregular migration.
"Hordes of illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa are still arriving, with all the violence, crime and unacceptable practices that entails," Saied told his national security council on February, 21, according to the statement.
The remarks immediately triggered widespread protests in the country as hundreds of people gathered in Tunis and chanted "Solidarity with migrants".
Tunisian Workers’ Party condemned Saied’s remarks and accused him of using racism and hatred to divert the people’s attention from his failures in the economic and political spheres, and urged him to tender an apology.
Earlier this week, the World Bank said it was suspending its work with Tunisia after African migrants were attacked in the country.
The bank's president, David Malpass, said the remarks had triggered "racially motivated harassment and even violence" and the institution had postponed a planned meeting with Tunisia until further notice, the AFP reported.
MG
