Tunisian authorities arrest mother for 'selling her children'

A woman from the Tunisia's Mahdia governorate has been arrested for putting her children up for adoption in exchange for money, Tunisian authorities said on Monday.

Two of the children, whose births out of wedlock are considered a social taboo, were sold and two others were given up for adoption, Farid bin Juha, a spokesperson for the Monastir and Mahdiya courts, confirmed to The New Arab's Arabic-language service.

According to Tunisian law, the exchange fell under human trafficking laws, Bin Juha said.

"The mother entered an adoption clinic and presented a fake ID belonging to the woman who would receive her baby, so that the baby could be registered in the new parents' names without adoption procedures being followed," said bin Juha.

Bin Juha also stated that one of the younger infants was "handed to a children's care home". No details were given regarding the older children's whereabouts.

The mother and all couples linked to the alleged crime have been arrested and may face prison sentences of up to 15 years.

Although the woman gave birth to the children outside of wedlock, she later married their father, who exposed her alleged criminal activities following a dispute with her.