Tunisian Appeals Court Delivers Sentences to Opposition Figures
A Tunisian appeals court has issued prison sentences to dozens of opposition leaders, lawyers, and businessmen. The individuals were accused of involvement in a conspiracy to overthrow President Kais Saied.
Details of Sentences
Forty individuals received sentences ranging from four to 45 years. These include prominent opposition leader Jawahar Ben Mbarek, who was sentenced to 20 years. Other party leaders, Issam Chebbi and Ghazi Chaouachi, also received 20-year terms. Businessman Kamel Ltaif was given the maximum sentence of 45 years, while politician Khyam Turki received a 35-year term.
Twenty of the charged individuals were sentenced in absentia, having fled the country. Among those reportedly sentenced in absentia were politician Bochra Belhaj Hmida and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, according to human rights groups.
Many of the defendants, including Ben Mbarek, Chebbi, and Chaouachi, have been in detention since 2023. News agency AFP reported, citing his sister and lawyer Dalila Ben Mbarek, that Jawahar Ben Mbarek has been on a hunger strike for over a month.
Allegations by Tunisian Authorities
Tunisian authorities assert that the defendants, which include former head of intelligence Kamel Guizani, attempted to destabilize the country and remove President Saied from power. The final sentences by the appeals court followed initial rulings in April, during which President Saied had publicly referred to the defendants as "terrorists."
International and Domestic Reactions
Human rights organizations and international bodies have voiced concerns regarding the trials. A lawyer representing the defendants, quoted by Reuters, characterized the trial as a "farce" with a "clear intent to eliminate political opponents."
Sara Hashash, deputy regional director at Amnesty International, described the sentences as "unjust" and stated they represent an "appalling indictment of the Tunisian justice system." She noted that while three defendants were acquitted by the appeals court, others received increased sentences. Amnesty International asserted that the Court of Appeal has "rubber stamped the government's use of the justice system to eliminate political dissent."
Following the initial April ruling, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed "serious concerns about political motivations" behind the trial. He urged the Tunisian government to "refrain from using broad national security and counter terrorism legislation to silence dissent."
Recent Protests and Political Context
On Saturday, thousands of Tunisians participated in an anti-government protest in the capital, Tunis. Demonstrators accused President Saied of consolidating power through the judiciary and police.
President Saied was elected in 2019, succeeding a period that followed the Arab Spring democracy movement. Since 2021, he suspended Tunisia's parliament and began governing by decree.