Iconic human rights activist Lina Ben Mhenni led a personal battle with lupus, a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the body, sometimes requiring vital organ transplants. In 2007, Lina herself received a kidney transplant, which allowed her to continue her fight for freedom of expression and social justice. Through its history, the Lina Ben Mhenni Association is committed today to raising public awareness about lupus and promoting organ donation, two subjects intimately linked to her life and her fight.
Our Mission:
The Lina Ben Mhenni Association’s lupus and organ donation awareness program pursues several fundamental objectives, inspired by Lina’s own story and by her commitment to a more just and united society:
Why this project is important
The program is essential for several reasons that reflect the legacy of Lina Ben Mhenni and the importance of these two causes, closely linked by the story of Lina Ben Mhenni and often underestimated in Tunisian society and around the world.
Through concrete actions to raise awareness, support and promote organ donation, we perpetuate its commitment to life, health and solidarity. Together, we can not only save lives, but also provide a better future for those who live with these realities.
1. Lupus: An invisible but devastating disease
Lupus is a rare autoimmune disease that attacks vital organs, including the kidneys, and can lead to serious and even fatal complications. However, this disease is often misdiagnosed or neglected. By raising public awareness of its symptoms and devastating effects, we hope to encourage earlier diagnosis and better patient care.
2. Organ donation: A vital gesture of solidarity
Thousands of people are waiting for a transplant, and yet many of them cannot find a donor in time. Organ donation can save lives, as it did for Lina. Promoting this cause means encouraging a simple but essential gesture that can offer a new chance to patients condemned without a transplant.
3. A direct link between illness and organ donation
Lupus is one of the many autoimmune diseases which, in its most serious forms, requires an organ transplant, such as a kidney. By linking these two issues, we highlight the importance of a network of active and informed donors to support patients in their medical journey.
4. The legacy of Lina Ben Mhenni
Lina Ben Mhenni, a figure of the Tunisian revolution, not only used her voice for freedom of expression, but she also campaigned for a better understanding of lupus, the disease from which she suffered, and for organ donation. By continuing his commitment, this project honors his memory and continues his fight for human dignity.