By Tarek Amara

TUNIS (Reuters) -Tunisia has ordered the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), a prominent civil rights and migrant advocacy organization, to suspend activities for a month, the group said on Monday, one of several associations under such orders.

FTDES official Ramadhan Ben Omar told Reuters that the government said the suspension was to allow for a financial audit related to foreign funding the group receives. “It’s real aim is to silence every independent voice within civil society”, he said.

The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Democratic Women group — dedicated to women’s rights, freedoms and democracy — was similarly suspended last week.

Sources told Reuters that several other organizations were also suspended be

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