Deputy Thabet El Abed questions proportionality of Saadia Mosbah's sentence after appeal hearing

During the appeal hearing for Saadia Mosbah and other Mnemty association leaders on Friday, June 19, 2026, Deputy Thabet El Abed attended for nearly three hours and subsequently stated his belief that the case primarily involves accounting, tax, and administrative issues, not matters warranting years of imprisonment. El Abed, a member of the Assembly of People's Representatives, shared his observations after listening to the proceedings, which focused on Mnemty's activities, foreign funding, administrative authorizations, bank accounts, projects, and tax obligations. Saadia Mosbah explained that the association's funding came from the European Union and known international organizations, transiting through official banking channels. She also addressed a question about the absence of funding from Arab or Maghreb countries, stating that anti-racism efforts generally receive little interest and funding in the Arab region. Mosbah indicated that Mnemty received approximately 300,000 dinars over ten years, averaging about 2,500 dinars per month. Regarding illegal enrichment allegations, she stated she does not own a home and is still repaying her vehicle, suggesting her financial situation does not reflect accumulated wealth. While not defending the accused or challenging the judiciary, El Abed concluded that the core debate concerned accounting, fiscal, and administrative matters. He added that while such irregularities might incur legal responsibility, they do not justify severe