A Tunisian court has handed down lengthy prison sentences to politicians, businessmen, and lawyers in a mass trial that critics claim is fabricated and emblematic of President Kais Saied’s authoritarian rule. The trial, which began in March and involved 40 defendants, resulted in sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years. Businessman Kamel Ltaif received the longest sentence of 66 years, while opposition politician Khayam Turki was given 48 years in jail. Prominent opposition figures such as Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawahar Ben Mbarek, and Ridha Belhaj were sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Since coming to power in 2019, Saied has consolidated control over the judiciary, leading to accusations of silencing dissent and stifling political opposition. Rights groups allege that Saied has undermined democratic institutions and established a repressive rule through judicial manipulation. The opposition leaders involved in the trial accuse Saied of staging a coup in 2021 and orchestrating fabricated charges to suppress political dissent.
Numerous opposition leaders, including Abir Moussi and Rached Ghannouchi, are currently imprisoned, further exacerbating concerns about political repression in Tunisia. The defendants maintain that the trial is an attempt to criminalize the opposition and establish a one-man rule. Despite the sentencing, critics continue to voice skepticism about the legitimacy of the trial and express concerns about the erosion of democratic values in the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings.
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