A Tunisian court has sentenced a group of senior politicians, businessmen and lawyers to long-term imprisonment, on charges of conviction and terrorism.
The defendant received a verdict of up to 66 years. These include leaders of the Savior Front, a major opposition coalition nation, arrested in 2023.
Human rights groups describe the trial as an attempt to stifle dissent. A defense lawyer said it was a “farce”.
President Kais Saied suspended parliament after his election in 2019. Last year, he won his second term by a landslide for dissidents and potential rivals.
In the latest case, a total of 40 defendants were accused of “violating national security” and “conspiracy belonging to terrorist organizations.” Most people left the country and were tried in absent.
Those in detained include former state savior leader Issam Chebbi and Jawhar Ben Mbarek.
Defense attorneys ruled AFP for 18 years after the ruling late Friday.
The lawyer added that activist and businessman Kamel Eltaief was sentenced to 66 years in prison.
“This is not a judicial decision, but a political order that the judge enforces under the order,” former minister Kamel Jendoubi, who was tried in absentia, told AFP.
Defense attorney Ahmed Souab was quoted by Reuters News Agency: “I have never seen such a trial. It’s a farce.”
Tunisia is the country where the Arab world began with democratic protests held in the Arab world in late 2010. The country’s long-time strongman, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, was ousted within weeks.
Since then, last year’s election was Tunisia’s third presidential vote.
Rights group Amnesty International condemned the “worrying decline of fundamental rights” under the Sed government for being dissatisfied with his authoritarian style of governance.
Seid declined criticism, saying he was fighting against “corrupt elites” and “traitors.”
