NGOs denounce President Kaïs Saied’s “racist and hateful” speech against migrants

“A sad day.” NGOs denounced on Wednesday February 22 a speech “racist and hateful” of the Tunisian President, Kaïs Saied, the day after his charge against the “hordes of illegal immigrants” from sub-Saharan Africa, calling for “end quickly”.

The Head of State argued that this illegal immigration was part of a “criminal enterprise hatched at the dawn of this century to change the demographic composition of Tunisia”so that it is considered as a country “african only” and fade his character “Arab-Muslim”. Kaïs Saied on Tuesday advocated “urgent measures”claiming that their presence was a source of “violence, crimes and unacceptable acts”.

“A great disappointment and great consternation”

“This speech causes great disappointment and great consternation”reacted to AFP Romdhane Ben Amor, spokesperson for the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights. “The fact that the president of a country that has signed international conventions on immigration makes such a statement is extremely serious”he pointed out.

Mnemty, an association that fights against discrimination, also condemned the words of the Tunisian president. She denounces a “speech of racism and hatred and incitement to violence against sub-Saharan migrants”.

Kais Saied was speaking at a meeting of the National Security Council “devoted to the urgent measures that must be taken to deal with the arrival in Tunisia of a large number of illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa”, according to a press release from the presidency. Authorities announced that at least 138 illegal migrants had been arrested or intercepted at sea overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.