A Tunisian court has handed down lengthy prison sentences to dozens of opposition figures, with some receiving terms ranging from 13 to 66 years on national security charges. The defendants were found guilty of “conspiracy against state security” and alleged ties to terrorist groups.
The ruling comes after a two-year trial, which critics say is an attempt by President Kais Saied’s authoritarian regime to silence the opposition. Human rights activists have condemned the trial as a sham, with some defendants being sentenced in absentia.
Among those convicted are senior opposition politicians, former intelligence officials, and media figures. They were accused of attempting to destabilize the country and overthrow Saied. The opposition leaders argue that the charges are fabricated and aimed at stifling dissent.
The case has sparked international concern, with allies of the opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi calling for his release. Ghannouchi was arrested in 2023 and sentenced to one year in prison before being handed further sentences on unrelated charges.
Saied’s regime has consolidated its power by dissolving parliament and sacking the prime minister. The opposition claims that the trial is a coup attempt, and critics say that Saied’s rule is authoritarian and repressive.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/19/tunisian-court-hands-opposition-figures-lengthy-jail