Tunisian court hands opposition figures lengthy jail terms

Summary

Dozens of opposition figures, including former justice minister Kamel Guizani and former intelligence head Kamel Chebbi, have been sentenced to life sentences on charges of conspiracy against state security in Tunisia. Critics claim the charges are fabricated to suppress dissent under President Kais Saied’s authoritarian rule, with one lawyer calling the case “a farce.” International observers highlight the symbolic nature of the trial as a tool to consolidate power and silence opposition voices amid growing tension in the North African nation.

Additional Summaries

Tunisia's judiciary has convicted numerous opposition figures of conspiracy against state security, imposing harsh sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years. The case, known as the "conspiracy case," involves prominent political opponents, foreign intellectuals, and former government officials. Critics claim the charges are politically motivated against President Kais Saied, who claims to act with the nation's security interests in mind. International groups like Human Rights Watch have criticized the trial as arbitrary and abusive, accusing Saied of using the judiciary to suppress dissent. The convictions underscore a tense struggle for power in Tunisia under an authoritarian regime.