‘We were all raped’: Tunisian security forces accused of abusing immigrant women

Rape, violence, kidnapping and extreme insecurity: these are the abuses inflicted on people in transit. Tunisian The North African country is exposed to increasingly difficult living conditions to reach Europe.

in October report The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), “Torture Pathways, mapping violations suffered by people on the move in Tunisia,” noted “the emergence of a number of worrying new practices.”

“The period November 2023 to April 2024 saw an alarming increase in cases of sexual violence committed by persons on the move in Tunisia, carried out with the complicity of agents of the Tunisian security forces, or directly caused by the policy of forced displacement and deportation of vulnerable people,” he said. report.

Middle East Eye met one survivor of these practices, Mariam*, a young Guinean woman in her thirties and mother of a toddler. He arrived in Tunisia in 2021 and worked in a series of odd jobs until February 21, 2023.

That day, the Tunisian presidency issued a publication. expression Kais Saied linked Comments about people from sub-Saharan Africa being dragged into crime were widely covered in the country. condemned as racist and conspiratorial.

“There is a criminal plot to change the structure of the demographic landscape in Tunisia, and some individuals received large amounts of money to grant residence to sub-Saharan immigrants,” the Tunisian president said. he said.

In the following days, Tunisian employers and landlords, fearful of prosecution for helping people staying in the country illegally, removed their foreign tenants or employees.

Life turned upside down

Like many, Meryem saw her life turned upside down. Less than a year later, at dawn, the young woman from Sfax Governorate, Tunisia’s second largest city and Europe’s main departure point, boarded a small boat with her young daughter to attempt to cross the Mediterranean.

Thirty minutes after they left, they were stopped by a boat belonging to the Tunisian National Guard, a gendarmerie force that operates mostly in rural and urban areas as well as on land and sea borders.

‘Officers beat us with sticks, fired tear gas, then forced us to go behind border fences’

– Mariam, a Guinean woman

“We asked for forgiveness, we begged them to let us go, but they didn’t listen,” Meryem told MEE.

He was brought back to the port with about 50 of his companions.

A few months ago, in the summer of 2023, a memorandum A memorandum of understanding was signed between the European Union and Tunisia with the encouragement of Italy, which is the main target of people who want to reach the continent.

One of its five pillars relates to migration and provides financial and technical assistance related to migration. root migration Towards Europe.

vaguely expressed agreement, strongly criticized Considering the situation in Tunisia, human rights organizations poor record In terms of freedoms.

President Saied always in question Convinced that their country will not become Europe’s border guard, Tunisian coast guards appear to be making significant efforts to limit exits from the region.

One year after the agreement, in mid-October 2024, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pleased With the results: The number of arrivals from Tunisia decreased by 81 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

But a few days ago, on October 14, independent UN experts condemned Endangerment of people caught by Tunisian authorities while crossing the Mediterranean.

“The situation of those ‘rescued’ by the coast guard, including victims of smuggling, reportedly worsens when they come ashore in ports,” experts said. he said.

“Reports received include allegations of arbitrary forcible transfers to the Algerian and Libyan borders without access to humanitarian assistance, regardless of the risk of injury from dehydration, malnutrition or sunburn.”

‘They forced me in front of my baby’s eyes’

After being brought back to the port by the Tunisian National Guard, Meryem’s group was handcuffed and searched, while their phones were taken by security guards.

The same evening, the group was dropped off at the scene by bus. Algeria border.

“The officers beat us with sticks and fired tear gas, then forced us to go behind the fence (which served as the border) and left,” Mariam told MEE.

Members of the group managed to hide their phones. Thanks to the geographical location, they set out again towards Tunisia.

The group reached the oasis city of Nefta, about 40 kilometers from the border, and settled in a date field. However, they were notified by a farmer that they wanted water.

The Tunisian National Guard arrived. Those who could escape did so. Maryam stayed with her daughter, nine other women and their three children.

They spent the day in a prison cell before being sent back to the border that same evening.

The young woman took a deep breath before telling MEE about the horror she experienced.

“We were all raped, one after another, in the minibus. They forced me in front of my baby,” she told MEE, choking on tears.

He was then beaten and abandoned in the middle of the desert with the rest of the group.

Mary has only one word to prove her story. However, her statement was corroborated by another woman who was raped that day in the National Guard’s van, Aissata.

The latter was supported by OMCT within the framework of the Sanad programme, which provides assistance to survivors of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment in Tunisia. The young woman’s story was told at the organization’s press conference in February. report.

Mariam and Aissata are not isolated cases. An activist from southern Tunisia told MEE that she regularly helps migrant women who say they have been raped.

‘I accompanied at least 10 women to have abortions. Some were raped by security guards, some by ordinary citizens.

– Tunisian activist

“I accompanied at least ten women to have abortions. Some were raped by security guards, others by ordinary citizens,” she said on condition of anonymity because helping people in illegal situations in Tunisia is subject to litigation. he said.

“These rapes are sometimes accompanied by violence. Sometimes they occur in exchange for food or not being reported to the police.”

The OMCT report points to the same phenomenon, stating that he and his partners collected “statements regarding sexual violence committed with the complicity of National Guard agents during the crossing of the Algerian and Libyan borders.”

“Instances of sexual exploitation by Tunisian citizens in exchange for water and food were also reported to OMCT in the Tozeur region in southwestern Tunisia,” the report said. The statement was included.

Likewise, UN experts “received reports of child sexual abuse and exploitation in border areas, as well as the rape of women and girls as young as 10 years old”.

Other testimonies from survivors It was published by The Guardian in September. The British newspaper accused the EU of providing funds that went to “civil servants involved in shocking abuses, leaving people to die in the desert and colluding with smugglers”.

The European Commission rejects any direct funding to reduce departures to Europe. However, there are many programs to train or equip Tunisian security forces, such as the National Guard. These projects are created by NGOs or within the framework of bilateral agreements with EU member countries.

European Commission Spokesperson Ana Pisonero said: accepted While recently calling for an investigation. “Tunisia is a sovereign country,” he said. “If there are any allegations of impropriety regarding the security forces, then of course, as partners of Tunisia, we would expect them to investigate these cases.”

In October, European ombudsman Emily O’Reilly said results In its investigation into respect for human rights in the context of the EU-Tunisia agreement, it was noted that the European Commission “did not adopt an independent human rights impact assessment before signing the memorandum of understanding with Tunisia and did not conduct independent periodic assessments on this issue.” Impact of actions implemented under the MoU.”

Tunisian officials rejected the Guardian’s allegations as “false and unfounded”, saying its security forces worked with “professionalism to maintain the rule of law on its territory, while fully complying with international principles and standards”.

The interior ministry, which oversees the National Guard, had not responded to MEE’s requests for comment at the time of publication.

Kidnapped by human traffickers

The ordeal of Meryem and her friends did not end there. In the middle of the desert, two men from the Sub-Saharan approached them and offered to help, telling them they were in the same situation.

They turned out to be human traffickers.

They took the group of women and children to Sfax with the help of Tunisians who served as drivers. There they were locked in a building run by Sub-Saharan Africans, Mariam told MEE.

‘I was threatened, slapped, prevented from sleeping, deprived of food and water’

– Meryem’s detention by human traffickers

“I was threatened, slapped, prevented from sleeping, deprived of food and water,” he recalled.

However, the young woman considers herself lucky: “I saw people being tortured and electrocuted.”

A week later, Meryem’s family in Guinea paid a ransom and she was released.

When MEE met the young woman a month later, she seemed lost. He was staying at friends’ houses and visiting humanitarian organizations in Tunisia in search of help.

He wanted to file a complaint but decided against doing so.

During a well-intentioned conversation he witnessed, an NGO employee said, “You can file a complaint about the kidnapping. This is not a problem since the criminals are foreigners. Moreover, the security forces are aware of this incident and take it seriously.” I.

“On the other hand, filing a complaint against the National Guard puts you in danger,” he warned her.

NGOs helping people transiting in May targeted with a series of arrests

Two executives of the Tunisian Refugee Council, a non-governmental organization that assists the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in registering refugees, were jailed.

They are accused of threatening the country’s national security for launching a call for proposals to accommodate 57 foreign unaccompanied minors.

Since then, the Tunisian Refugee Council has ceased its activities and, as a result, UNHCR has stopped issuing refugee cards to applicants.

Meanwhile, the Tunisian branch of the French NGO Terre d’Asile investigated and closed his door.

On October 1, Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, condemned this situation.

“This will only create fear and stigma and could result in life-saving activities being suspended, leaving hundreds of vulnerable people in dangerous conditions, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa who are the targets of attacks.” he warned.

Even more lonely and desperate, Meryem decided to return at the beginning of the summer to the Sfax region, where unofficial camps welcomed candidates heading to Europe. His phone had been off for several months.

*Name has been changed for security reasons.