Tunisia faces controversy after MP’s remarks on rape and migrant women

Wednesday 15 April 2026 - 17:30

A political controversy has erupted in Tunisia following remarks made by a member of parliament regarding rape and migrant women from sub-Saharan Africa.

The debate intensified after Tarak Mahdi, an elected representative from the coastal city of Sfax, made comments during a parliamentary session addressing migration policy with the Interior Minister. His statements quickly spread on social media and triggered strong reactions from civil society groups and human rights organizations.

Migration from sub-Saharan Africa remains a sensitive issue in Tunisia. In recent years, public discourse has increasingly focused on social tensions linked to irregular migration flows, with political leaders often warning about their impact on national stability.

During the parliamentary exchange, the lawmaker described migrants in strongly negative terms and called for their departure from the country. He also made controversial remarks about violence against migrant women, which were widely condemned as inappropriate and harmful.

Human rights organizations, including the Tunisian League for Human Rights, criticized the comments as racist, sexist, and a dangerous normalization of violence against women. The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights also condemned the statements, describing them as an attack on human dignity and a justification of sexual violence.

In response to the backlash, the MP later stated that his comments had been misinterpreted and taken out of context. He denied any intention to promote violence or insult women’s dignity, and issued an apology to anyone who felt offended.

The incident has reignited debate in Tunisia over migration discourse, parliamentary responsibility, and the need for respectful public speech on sensitive social issues.