Suspended prison sentence
A Tunisian court issued a sentence of 6 months in prison, suspended, against 12 anti-pollution activists in the city of Gabes in the southeast of the country on Wednesday evening. This ruling came in the context of their participation in a sit-in in front of the headquarters of the Tunisian Chemical Group in Gabes, demanding the dismantling of its polluting units, which the Group considered a disruption of its economic activity.
Case details and appeal
The "Intersection for Rights and Freedoms" association (Taqat) clarified that the Gabes Primary Court sentenced environmental activist Khair Eddine Dabba, a member of the "Stop Pollution" campaign, along with 11 young people. It noted that the case dates back to 2020, following a complaint filed by the Tunisian Chemical Group in Gabes, due to the participation of Dabba and other activists in a peaceful sit-in demanding the right to health and a healthy environment.
Reactions and context
For its part, the "Stop Pollution" campaign criticized the ruling in a statement on Facebook, pointing out the proven harm to the Tunisian Chemical Group and the conviction. The ruling was issued by a primary court, meaning it is subject to appeal and is not final. The suspended sentence means that authorities will not enforce it unless the convicted individuals commit another crime during the penalty period.
Previous protests and Group background
Previously, on March 8, 2023, an absentia sentence was issued against them, sentencing them to one year in prison, in addition to an 8-month prison sentence for those who provided the sit-in tent, on charges of "disrupting freedom of work." For years, Gabes has witnessed protests demanding the dismantling of the industrial complex, established in 1972 in the Salam Beach area, which residents and environmental organizations accuse of dumping solid waste into the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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