Twelve anti-pollution activists in Gabès, Tunisia have been sentenced to prison for protesting against a local chemical company responsible for environmental pollution.
In Gabès, southern Tunisia, twelve anti-pollution activists have received prison sentences of one year, while another activist has been sentenced to eight months due to their protests against the Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT). This publicly owned company, which converts phosphate into fertilizers, has been accused by activists of contributing significantly to marine and air pollution in the city. The legal troubles for these activists trace back to 2020 when members of the 'Stop Pollution' group engaged in a sit-in protest outside the GCT headquarters, seeking to draw attention to the environmental crisis in their region.
The case, which many believed had been shelved, resurfaced amid a backdrop of rising tensions in Gabès over the pollution problem. Recently, both local residents and activists have organized multiple protests against the environmental degradation in their city. The activists' harsh sentences have sparked outrage among community members, many of whom see the judicial decision as an attempt to stifle dissent and undermine environmental advocacy efforts that seek to hold corporations accountable for their impact on public health and the environment.
This ruling showcases the broader challenge activists face in Tunisia and highlights the escalating conflict between governmental or corporate interests and local communities fighting for environmental justice. With the increasing visibility of such issues, it remains to be seen whether this case will galvanize further activism or lead to a tightening of repression against environmental movements in Tunisia.
