Tunisia Sentences Opposition Leader Ghannouchi and Others
A court in Tunisia has sentenced 21 notable politicians and officials to prison terms ranging from 12 to 35 years.
Allegations have been made against President Kais Saied regarding his manipulation of the judicial system to stifle opposition.
On Tuesday, several prominent individuals, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, received prison sentences.
In a collective trial, the court issued sentences that varied from 12 to 35 years for the defendants. Of those sentenced, ten are currently detained, while 11 have fled the country.
The charges brought against these individuals encompass participation in a group linked to terrorist activities, incitement to violence, attempts to overthrow the government, and the recruitment and training of individuals for terrorist activities both within Tunisia and abroad.
Ghannouchi’s legal team asserted, “All allegations were based on the unreliable and inconsistent testimony of a secret, anonymous witness who failed to provide any corroborating evidence for his baseless claims and ultimately retracted most of them.”
Which Opposition Figures Have Been Imprisoned in Tunisia?
Rached Ghannouchi, the head of the Ennahda party and former speaker of the dissolved parliament, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
He has been incarcerated since 2023 and has received three separate sentences totaling 27 years.
The 84-year-old Islamist leader has chosen not to attend court sessions, claiming that the judicial system is heavily influenced by the government.
Former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem, and Mouadh Ghannouchi, Rached Ghannouchi’s son, were all sentenced to 35 years and have already left the country.
Additionally, Nadia Akacha, who previously served as chief of staff to President Kais Saied, was also among those sentenced, as reported by local radio station Mosaique FM.
How Has Saied Suppressed Opposition?
Since assuming power six years ago and dissolving the elected parliament in 2021, Saied has escalated his efforts to suppress dissenting voices.
In April of this year, several politicians, business leaders, and lawyers received sentences of up to 66 years in prison.
Activists and members of the opposition contend that Tunisia’s democracy, which emerged from the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, is increasingly at risk, accusing Saied of using the judiciary and security forces to advance his political objectives.
Saied maintains that these actions are necessary to eliminate corruption among the elite.
