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A Tunisian court has sentenced 21 prominent politicians and officials, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, to prison terms ranging from 12 to 35 years, in a new verdict that highlights the use of the judiciary by President Kais Saied to silence the opposition.
The charges, which include inciting violence, attempting to overthrow the government, and links to terrorism, were based largely on the testimony of a secret, anonymous witness.
According to Ghannouchi’s defense team, the witness ultimately retracted most of his claims and failed to present any credible evidence.
Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old head of the Ennahda party and former speaker of parliament, received a 14-year sentence. He has been imprisoned since 2023 and now faces a total of 27 years from multiple convictions.
Refusing to appear in court, Ghannouchi has denounced the judiciary as being under government control.
Among those sentenced to 35 years are former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem, former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani, and Ghannouchi’s son, Mouadh, all of whom have fled the country.
Even Nadia Akacha, once President Saied’s chief of staff, was reportedly among those sentenced.
Since dissolving parliament in 2021, Saied has tightened his grip on power, with critics accusing him of systematically dismantling Tunisia’s democratic institutions. In April, other opposition figures, businesspeople, and lawyers were sentenced to up to 66 years in prison.
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