A court in Tunisia has handed down heavy prison sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years to several high-profile political figures and activists accused of plotting against the state.
The ruling, issued early Saturday, follows a major trial involving 40 defendants, including opposition leaders, former officials, and lawyers.
The case stems from arrests made in February 2023, when authorities launched a sweeping crackdown targeting members of opposition coalitions, including the Ennahda Movement and the National Salvation Front. Those convicted include former officials such as Noureddine Bhiri, Issam Chebbi, and ex-presidential aide Rached Ghannouchi.
According to the court, the charges include attempts to harm internal and external security, the formation of terrorist groups, and plans to overthrow the government by force. Several of the accused were sentenced in absentia and could be imprisoned immediately upon arrest.
Families of the defendants gathered outside the courthouse during the proceedings, protesting what they described as an unfair and politically charged trial. Human rights groups have echoed those concerns, warning that the sentences mark a new phase in Tunisia’s crackdown on dissent.
The government insists that the trial was focused on national security threats, not political opinions. However, critics view it as part of a broader effort by President Kais Saied to concentrate power since he began implementing sweeping changes in 2021. Those changes included suspending parliament, restructuring the judiciary, and introducing a new constitution through a national referendum.
Opposition parties argue that Saied is sidelining democratic institutions and silencing critics under the guise of legal reform and security enforcement. The latest court rulings are now expected to be challenged in appeals, but the political tensions surrounding the case show no signs of easing.