In a move perceived to be a clampdown on the opposition, Rached Ghannouchi, a popular Tunisian politician has been sentenced to an additional 14 years in prison. Ghannouchi, who is the founder and leader of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party of Tunisia received the jail term alongside 18 other opposition politicians on Tuesday.
Tunisia’s president Kais Saied accused Ghannouchi and his followers of conspiring against state security. According to local reports, the children of the opposition leader, Mouadh and Tasnim also received 35-year jail terms.
Additionally, former foreign affairs minister, Rafik Abdessalem, and ex-intelligence officer, Kamel Guizani were among those who received sentences. However, the officials including Ghannouchi’s children were sentenced in absentia as they had already left the country.
Meanwhile, the legal team of Ghannouci refuted the indictments against the politician, arguing that the legal proceedings are against the standards of a fair trial. It is worth mentioning that the opposition leader has been in prison since 2023.
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Recently, a court in Tunisia added three sentences to Ghannouchi’s jail term, making it more than 20 years. The leader of Ennahda faced charges relating to money laundering.
Alleged restriction on opposition, freedom of speech, and the press in Tunisia
It is worth mentioning that Ghannouchi is one of the leading politicians in Tunisia who has kept the Kais Saied administration on its toes. Until his detention, Ghannouchi served as the speaker of the parliament while his party, Ennahda, remained the biggest in Tunisia.
Recall that President Saied suspended the Tunisian parliament in 2021 and ruled the African country by decree. Additionally, the president, since he came to power, has jailed opposition leaders, journalists, lawyers, and activists in the country.
Furthermore, the Tunisian president is facing serious backlash both locally and globally for restricting freedom of speech and the press. In 2024, security operatives stormed the headquarters of Tunisia’s Bar Association to arrest a lawyer.
In a forceful entry to the premises, masked armed men shot into the air and arrested a journalist who was live on a television broadcast. However, in his defense, Saied said the actions are targeted at ending the chaos and corruption of the previous administration.
