Tunisia Travel Warning: Maryland Woman's Kidnapping Reveals Disturbing Pattern
A Black American tourist's terrifying experience exposes systematic anti-Black violence and state-enabled trafficking networks
By Leroy Adams, Editorial and Media Director Culture Travels Media
A Maryland woman's harrowing experience in Tunisia has revealed a disturbing pattern that extends far beyond a single incident—one that raises urgent questions about the safety of Black travelers in a country increasingly used as a corridor for human trafficking.
Meka, a Black American from Montgomery County, was vacationing in Tunisia with her friend Queen when her trip took a terrifying turn. Last Saturday night, after returning to her hotel from a club, she went to the lobby to get tissues. That's the last thing she remembers before waking up in the back of a car, being driven away by a stranger.
"She fought back. She opened the car door, screamed for help," according to reports. "The driver punched her repeatedly in the face, trying to silence her, but she kept thinking about her kids back home. So she kept fighting her way out."
When Queen tried to get help from hotel staff, they denied the incident occurred. "This didn't happen here. We don't know what you're talking about," staff reportedly told her, walking away from the distressed friend seeking assistance.
Meka survived. She made it home to her family with black eyes and bruises covering her body. But her experience is not isolated—it's part of a documented pattern of anti-Black violence and systematic trafficking that makes Tunisia dangerous for Black travelers.
A System of State-Enabled Trafficking
Culture Travels Media's investigation reveals that Tunisia has become a trafficking corridor where Tunisian authorities allegedly participate in the systematic targeting and sale of Black migrants to armed Libyan groups.
According to testimonies from migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, Tunisian police intercept Black African migrants, handcuff them, and drive them to the Libyan border where they are sold to militias.
"The Tunisian police sold us to kidnappers, Libyan bandits," said Charlie, a survivor from Cameroon. "The selling price was 150 dinars—approximately $25. Less than the price of a goat."
The testimonies reveal a horrifying pattern:
Ivana, 26, was living in Tunisia when police raided her home at night. She was handcuffed, driven to the desert, and handed to armed Libyan men. Her sister in Cameroon went into debt to pay $690 for her release.
Aisha, 22, was held in a Libyan detention center for eight months after being transferred from Tunisia. She watched two friends die, including one who died in her lap. When she cried, she was beaten.
These accounts align with official findings. In October 2024, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights raised concerns about migrants being sold by Tunisian security forces to armed groups in Libya. A January 2025 report called "State Trafficking" presented evidence of systematic targeting of Black migrants through mass raids, detention without due process, and forced transfers to Libyan traffickers.
The European Connection
The situation is further complicated by European involvement. The European Union and Italy fund Tunisia's border enforcement through migration deals, despite documented knowledge of these abuses. This means European policies are financially enabling the very systems that facilitate anti-Black violence and trafficking.
Are Black Tourists at Risk?
Meka's experience raises a critical question: Are Black tourists being targeted by the same networks that traffic migrants?
The parallels are concerning. When Meka tried to get help, hotel staff denied the incident occurred—the same pattern of denial that authorities use regarding migrant trafficking. Both involve the systematic targeting of Black individuals, institutional denial of incidents, and treatment of Black lives as disposable.
While we don't yet have definitive proof that tourist kidnapping and migrant trafficking are connected, the overlap in methods, targets, and official responses suggests Black travelers face risks beyond typical tourist safety concerns.
Tunisia's Tourism Facade
Tunisia actively markets itself as a tourist destination, promoting beautiful Mediterranean beaches, rich history, and affordable luxury. But behind this tourism facade, Black bodies—whether migrants or tourists—are being treated as disposable.
The hotel staff's response to Meka's kidnapping mirrors how authorities deny migrant trafficking: complete dismissal of incidents to protect the tourism industry's reputation. This pattern of institutional denial enables continued violence while maintaining Tunisia's image as a safe destination.
Our Recommendation: Avoid Tunisia
Culture Travels Media does not make travel warnings lightly. We believe in Black people's right to move freely and explore the world. However, the evidence from multiple sources—UN reports, migrant testimonies, and now Meka's experience—points to systematic anti-Black violence enabled by state actors.
If you are planning to travel to Tunisia, don't.
If you know someone currently there, advise them to leave.
If you are working with a travel agency still promoting Tunisia trips, ask them why they are putting Black travelers at risk.
This is not about discouraging travel to Africa or Black-majority countries. This is about recognizing when systematic violence makes a destination unsafe for our community.
Beyond Travel Recommendations
Meka's story is about more than travel safety. It reveals a system of anti-Black violence enabled by state actors, funded by European migration policies, and hidden behind tourism marketing. It shows how Black lives are deemed expendable when they conflict with economic and political interests.
The European Union and Italy continue funding Tunisia's border enforcement despite documented human rights violations. Tunisia continues marketing itself to tourists while participating in human trafficking. Hotels continue denying incidents to protect their reputations.
This systematic denial and complicity makes clear that migration agreements and tourism revenue are prioritized over Black lives and safety.
Looking Forward
We will continue monitoring this situation and updating our recommendations as new information becomes available. The safety of Black travelers worldwide remains our priority, and we will not hesitate to share difficult truths when our community faces systematic targeting.
Meka and Queen are safely home with their families. But their experience serves as a warning that cannot be ignored: Tunisia is not safe for Black travelers right now.
Travel informed. Travel safely. Culture travels when you do—but it should never cost you your life.
Culture Travels Media is committed to providing honest, accurate travel information that prioritizes Black traveler safety. We will continue investigating this story and update our community as new information becomes available.
If you or someone you know needs help while traveling abroad, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
