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Tunisian Court Sentences Opposition Figures Amid Claims of Authoritarianism
A Tunisian court has issued prison sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years to various politicians, business leaders, and attorneys in a high-profile trial that critics deem politically motivated and emblematic of President Kais Saied’s increasing authoritarianism.
The longest sentence was handed to businessman Kamel Ltaif, who received 66 years in prison. Opposition figure Khayam Turki was sentenced to 48 years, according to information from a lawyer representing the defendants.
In addition, notable opposition members such as Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawahar Ben Mbarek, and Ridha Belhaj were each sentenced to 18 years. These individuals have been detained since 2023, creating widespread concerns regarding their treatment and the fairness of the legal proceedings.
The mass trial, which commenced in March, involved 40 individuals. Since the allegations surfaced, over 20 defendants have chosen to flee the country.
President Saied secured a second term in office in 2024 with a commanding 90.7% of the vote, following his ascent to power in 2019. However, observers and rights organizations argue that his authority over the judiciary has grown expansive since he dissolved the parliament in 2021 and started to govern by decree, actions which included the disbandment of the independent supreme judicial council and the dismissal of numerous judges in 2022.
“We are not surprised by these unjust and vengeful verdicts that seek to silence the voices of these opposition figures,” stated Youssef Chaouachi, son of one of the convicted, Ghazi Chaouachi.
Defence attorney Ahmed Souab expressed his outrage prior to the verdicts being delivered, describing the trial as a “farce” and a “scandal,” highlighting the preordained nature of the outcomes.
The government accuses the defendants, which also include former officials and ex-intelligence chief Kamel Guizani, of attempting to undermine state stability and orchestrate a coup against Saied.
Nejib Chebbi, head of the National Salvation Front—a principal opposition coalition—echoed concerns that the regime aims to delegitimize dissent, asserting that he too was among the accused.
In 2023, President Saied labeled the politicians as “traitors and terrorists,” warning that any judges willing to exonerate them would be seen as complicit.
Opposition leaders argue that the court proceedings represent an extension of a coup carried out by Saied in 2021, underscoring their belief that the legal actions are designed to suppress opposition voices and entrench a singular, repressive authority.
They reveal plans for a collective initiative to reconcile and strengthen the divided opposition, targeting a return to democratic norms in Tunisia, which is often regarded as the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings.
A significant number of political party leaders in Tunisia currently find themselves imprisoned, including Abir Moussi, head of the Free Constitutional Party, and Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda party—two of Saied’s most formidable adversaries.
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www.theguardian.com