A Tunisian appellate court has delivered prison terms ranging from five to 45 years against scores of opposition figures, entrepreneurs, and legal practitioners—amounting to one of the broadest political crackdowns since the 2011 uprising. The ruling, detailed in judicial records released on Friday, has deepened anxieties that President Kais Saied is steering the nation toward an increasingly autocratic trajectory.
The proceedings targeted 40 individuals accused of plotting to depose the president. Twenty of them were tried in their absence after fleeing overseas, a development that underscores the atmosphere of intimidation now confronting dissenting voices and former state officials.
Several high-profile opposition personalities were among those convicted. According to defence attorneys:
- Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawahar Ben Mbarek, and Ridha Belhaj were each handed 20-year sentences.
- Noureddine Bhiri, a senior member of the Ennahda party, received a 10-year term.
- Chaima Issa, a prominent figure in the National Salvation Front, was also sentenced to 20 years.
- Nejib Chebbi, leader of the National Salvation Front coalition, was given 12 years.
- Human rights advocate Ayachi Hammami was sentenced to five years.
While some of these individuals had already been detained following a wave of arrests in 2023, others remain at liberty, though lawyers anticipate that authorities will soon enforce the judgments.
The harshest penalty—45 years—was imposed on influential businessman Kamel Ltaif, long regarded as a key power broker in Tunisian politics. Opposition figure Khyam Turki received a 35-year sentence.
Authorities Justify Ruling as Safeguard Against Instability
Government officials insist the convictions were necessary, alleging the defendants conspired to destabilise state institutions and unseat President Saied. Those charged include former senior administrators and security officials, among them former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani.
However, defence teams and human rights advocates say the process was fundamentally flawed.
“This is a judicial charade,” attorney Mokthar Jmai declared, arguing the accusations were crafted to eliminate political competitors rather than protect national security.
Human Rights Organisations Sound Alarm Over Intensifying Crackdown
Groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International warn that the trial signals an alarming escalation in political repression. Since Saied’s power consolidation in 2021—which saw him dissolve parliament, suspend large sections of the constitution, and govern by decree—the authorities have imprisoned critics, journalists, judges, and civil society leaders. Independent organisations have also faced suspension or restrictive regulations.
Activists contend that the judiciary has effectively been brought under presidential control since Saied dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council in 2022 and dismissed numerous judges—moves widely viewed as eroding judicial autonomy.
Opposition Camps Prepare Coordinated Reaction
Traditionally fragmented opposition parties say they intend to unite in the wake of what they describe as a calculated purge aimed at silencing dissent ahead of upcoming political contests. Their leaders insist the charges are fabricated and designed to neutralise challengers.
President Saied has repeatedly dismissed such criticism. In 2023, he labelled his adversaries “traitors and terrorists,” warning that any judge who acquitted them would be viewed as an accomplice.
The sweeping convictions are expected to fuel further political tension at a moment when Tunisia is grappling with economic hardship, diminished foreign investment, and rising public frustration.
Source: Araba Sey
