Outrage in Tunisia Over Lawmaker’s Controversial Remarks

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Tunis: Comments made by Tunisian lawmaker Tarak Mahdi about rape and sub-Saharan African migrant women have sparked strong backlash, with rights groups calling them racist and offensive.

Speaking in parliament, Mahdi dismissed reports of a migrant woman being raped, saying such incidents were “unheard of” and adding that Tunisian women were “beautiful enough.” He also described sub-Saharan African migrants as a “threat to social peace” and said they “must leave at any cost.”

Human rights organisations, including the Tunisian League for Human Rights, condemned the remarks as shocking and said they downplay the seriousness of rape. Another group, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, called the comments a violation of human dignity and warned they could encourage violence against women.

After facing criticism, Mahdi said his comments were taken out of context and apologised if they caused harm.

Migration remains a sensitive issue in Tunisia, which is a key route for people trying to reach Europe. In 2023, President Kais Saied made controversial remarks about migrants, which led to a rise in racially motivated attacks.

Since then, many migrants have been forced out of homes and jobs, with some deported or pushed toward dangerous border areas. The situation has drawn international concern, especially as the European Union increased efforts to limit migration, including a financial deal with Tunisia.