Faith Nyasuguta
A Tunisian court has sentenced prominent opposition figures and a journalist in a move widely condemned as an attack on political and press freedoms.
Among those sentenced is Rached Ghannouchi, 83, Tunisia’s most influential opposition leader and co-founder of the Ennahda movement. Already imprisoned for nearly two years, he was handed an additional 22-year sentence for allegedly undermining state security. Ghannouchi boycotted the trial, and his party, Ennahda, has denounced the charges as politically motivated.
The court also sentenced several other politicians and former government officials, with sentences collectively exceeding 760 years, according to the National Salvation Front, an opposition coalition. Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, one of its leaders, described the ruling as “one of the darkest periods” for Tunisia’s judicial system, accusing the government of weaponizing the courts to silence critics.
The case stems from a 2019 investigation into a media company that provided services for Ennahda during Tunisia’s presidential elections. The accused faced charges of defamation, spreading falsehoods, money laundering, undermining state security, and receiving foreign funding. However, rights groups argue that the prosecution was designed to suppress President Kais Saied’s opponents.
Growing Authoritarianism Under Saied
Since taking power in 2019, President Saied has dismantled democratic institutions, consolidated power, and systematically targeted his critics. He has dissolved parliament, rewritten the constitution, and jailed politicians, activists, and journalists. Despite widespread criticism, he secured a second term in October 2023, winning in a landslide election while many of his strongest opponents, including Ghannouchi, remained imprisoned.
The latest court ruling also sentenced several exiled Ennahda politicians, including former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, who was sentenced to 35 years on similar state security charges.
Journalist Sentenced, Press Freedoms Under Threat
In a move seen as a direct assault on press freedom, journalist Chadha Haj Mubarak was sentenced to five years in prison as part of the same case. The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists condemned the ruling, calling for her immediate release. Her lawyer, Souhail Medimegh, stated that Mubarak’s charges were solely due to her journalistic work.
Ennahda issued a statement warning that these rulings signal a return to authoritarian rule, reversing the democratic progress Tunisia made after its 2011 revolution, which led to the ouster of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Once hailed as a success story of the Arab Spring, Tunisia’s political trajectory has taken a drastic turn under Saied.
While the government claims these legal actions are necessary for state security, critics argue they are part of a bigger plan to silence dissent and eliminate opposition voices. The crackdown on journalists and political opponents has sparked concerns over Tunisia’s democratic future and its commitment to human rights.
As Tunisia faces mounting economic and social challenges, Saied’s grip on power continues to tighten, leaving little room for political opposition or independent journalism.
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