The Economic and Social Forum condemns the criminalization of environmental mobility in Menzel Bouzelfa

The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights announced on 31 October 2024 its full solidarity with the detainees and their families in the town of Menzel Bouzelfa, Nabeul state. The organisation has condemned the criminalization of peaceful environmental mobility and the use of security approaches in processing social files, while it has not issued a new official comment from the Interior Ministry on the course of ongoing field investigations.

This came after National Guard troops in Menzel Bouzelfa stopped 20 people against the backdrop of protests against a factory dedicated to protein production through breeding black fly larvae. At the same time, 20 citizens and other nationals received formal summonses to appear and investigate before the National Guard's Third Crime Task Force in Ben Arous.

People's field movements have been underway since early October 2024 with a refusal to set up this industrial facility within an agricultural and residential area located near local educational institutions and hospital. Protesters raised concerns about the impact of organic waste treatment on the water table and environmental safety, based on constitutional rights related to peaceful demonstration and living in a healthy environment, along with the commitment of establishments to cover conditions and change the property coloration.

The Nabeul State Air Authority issued on 16 October 2024 a decision to revoke the classification and license of the facility after reviewing the legal procedures for granting its licenses. On the night of 21 October 2024, the surrounding area witnessed the death of protester Hussain Dredi after he was hit by a car leaving the headquarters, which led to increased tensions in the region and fires in parts of the facility.

The public prosecutor's office has subsequently opened a judicial investigation to determine the causes and circumstances of the death. The next step is to bring the 20 appellants before the Ben Arous Security Team, concurrently with referring the detainees to the court for prosecution on charges.