In a landmark but controversial verdict, a Tunisian court has convicted opposition leaders to up to 66 years in prison. The trial charged 40 people—journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, and politicians—with plotting against state security.
Most local and international commentators label the case as politically motivated. President Kais Saied’s government, already criticized for reversing democratic reforms, now finds itself increasingly accused of stifling dissent through the courts.
Court Hands Down Tough Sentences
The trial ended late Friday and into Saturday in a special criminal court trying cases of terrorism. Official reports indicate defendants were sentenced between 13 and 66 years. Tunisian media outlets, such as TAP and Jawahra FM, confirmed the verdict.
A stand-in prosecutor alleged the defendants were members of a terror organization and conspired against state security. Many, however, view the charges as baseless.
Opposition Leaders Among the Convicted
The decision by Tunisian Court aims at various popular personalities. Former parliament member Said Ferjani was given 13 years. His daughter Kaouther Ferjani reported the news on X, branding the verdict as part of a “fabricated conspiracy case.”
Other sentenced leaders include members of the Islamist party Ennahdha. Some of the defendants had already served more than two years in pre-trial detention, while others were in exile.
Saied Tightens Grip After 2021 Power Shift
Since 2021, President Kais Saied has deconstructed Tunisia’s democratic institutions. He has dissolved parliament, assumed executive powers, and further expanded his influence over the judiciary. Reelected last year, he now refers to his opponents as “traitors and terrorists.”
The wholesale sentencing illustrates how far Tunisia has strayed from its 2011 Arab Spring beginnings. Once a reform model, the country now slips back towards authoritarianism.
Human Rights Watch published a scathing report last week. It indicted the Tunisian government for accelerating politically charged arrests. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has also sounded the alarm over the politicization of courts to muzzle opposition. Judges, journalists, and lawyers are more and more being intimidated, prosecuted, or driven into exile.
Tunisia’s Democratic Future in Doubt
This trial is one of the largest political crackdowns since Saied came to power. The absence of transparency, coupled with harsh sentencing, sends a shivering message to activists.
It also undermines the credibility of Tunisia’s justice system. As international pressure increases, Tunisia’s future as a democracy is at stake.
