Tunisia’s opposition leaders have been sentenced to long prison terms on conspiracy and terrorism charges. A court ordered up to 66 years in jail for defendants, including National Salvation Front leaders Issam Chebbi and Jawhar Ben Mbarek. Human rights groups described the trial as an attempt to stifle dissent. President Kais Saied’s government has been accused of suppressing opposition and undermining democracy.
The country’s long history of pro-democracy protests began in 2010, when Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted. Last year’s presidential election saw a landslide victory for Saied, who has since suspended parliament and jailed dissidents. Amnesty International has warned of a “worrying decline in fundamental rights” under his rule.
Critics of Saied’s government describe the trials as a “farce”, with some defendants tried in absentia. The sentences have been condemned by human rights groups, who see them as an attempt to silence opposition and undermine democracy in Tunisia.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8x8de2qrgvo