A Tunisian court has imposed severe sentences on prominent opposition figures convicted of conspiring against state security, marking a significant escalation in the country's repression, according to the official news agency on Saturday.
Rights organizations and legal representatives have described the charges as unfounded.
A total of 40 individuals, including opposition leaders, lawyers, businessmen, rights activists, and journalists, faced charges in this case. The court issued prison sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years, as reported by the news agency TAP, which cited a judicial official without providing further details.
Tunisia, located in North Africa, was the origin of the Arab Spring uprisings against authoritarianism that began in late 2010. However, the nation has been regressing into authoritarianism since President Kais Saied initiated one-man rule in 2021.
Following the uprising, Tunisia established democratic elections, a free press, and freedom of expression, which facilitated protests and public grievances. Nonetheless, economic stagnation, deteriorating state finances, and deepening inequalities have led to divisions among Tunisians regarding the influence of political Islamists in the post-revolution period.
This situation contributed to a segment of the population supporting Mr. Saied and his promises of reform.
Nearly four years after his consolidation of power, Mr. Saied's decisions have reportedly exacerbated the economic crisis and intensified repression, diminishing his initial popularity.
Journalists, political activists, lawyers, and human rights organizations have noted a significant curtailment of media freedom, with the judiciary increasingly acting in accordance with Mr. Saied's directives. Many Tunisians now fear prosecution for government criticism. Additionally, Mr. Saied has assumed control over several key independent government institutions, including the electoral oversight body.
The government has intensified the arrest of political adversaries and critics. A recent report from Human Rights Watch indicated that over 50 individuals were detained on political grounds or for exercising their rights as of January 2025, with some held without charges or trials.
“Not since the 2011 revolution have Tunisian authorities unleashed such repression,” stated Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. He emphasized that President Kais Saied’s administration has reverted the country to an era of political prisoners, undermining the civil liberties that Tunisians fought to secure.
Several defendants sentenced on Friday were political activists or politicians prosecuted for discussing political strategies or for engaging with foreign diplomats or international organizations, a practice that had been commonplace post-revolution.
Other defendants faced accusations of opposing the government, with official charges including forming or joining a terrorist group, inciting unrest, and causing damage to food security and the environment.
Eight defendants have been in detention since February 2023, when prosecutors initiated the case, all being prominent politicians or lawyers involved in opposition efforts against Mr. Saied. Under Tunisian law, pretrial detention should not exceed 14 months.
More than 20 other defendants fled the country prior to the verdict, while some remained in Tunisia but were not in custody. The state news agency reported that the sentences were “enforced immediately,” suggesting that those not currently detained may now face arrest.