Massive Protest in Gabès Against Chemical Company Amid Environmental and Health Concerns

Hundreds of residents in Gabès, Tunisia, participated in a significant protest today, coinciding with a court hearing that seeks to evaluate the operations of a local chemical company. The company has been accused by locals of causing severe environmental pollution over the past several decades.

Protesters chanted slogans calling for the closure of the company, which they identify as a primary contributor to the degradation of the marine and agricultural environment in the region. They highlighted that the materials produced by the company, particularly "phosphogypsum," have led to a dramatic decline in biodiversity in the Gabès Bay, with recent scientific studies indicating a reduction of over 90%.

Participants also expressed concerns regarding rising health issues, noting that Gabès has reported high rates of respiratory diseases such as asthma, as well as increased cancer cases compared to other Tunisian governorates.

This grassroots movement is part of a broader series of protests organized by civil society and labor groups, urging judicial authorities to take decisive action to protect the population and the environment, and to address what they describe as "chronic neglect" in managing industrial pollution.