Tough Sentences in Tunisia Spark Storm of Legal and Political Controversy
On Saturday morning, the Tunisian Anti-Terrorism Court issued unprecedented sentences against dozens of accused individuals in what is known as the “conspiracy against state security” case. This occurred in the absence of the defendants, amid widespread human rights and international condemnation of the trial procedures.
The sentences affected 40 people, including politicians, activists, lawyers, and businessmen, ranging from 4 to 66 years. They were pronounced in person for those in custody and in absentia for those who have fled or are free.
Key Sentences:
Kamal Latif: 66 years
Khayam Al-Turki: 48 years
Nour al-Din al-Bahiri: 43 years
Issam Chebbi, Jawhar Ben Mbarak, Ghazi Al-Shawashi: 18 years
Bushra al-Haj Hamida, Shaima Aissa, and others: 33 years
Severe Charges:
The accused face serious charges, including:
Conspiracy against state security
Formation of a terrorist grouping
Incitement to armed violence
Endangering food and environmental security
Attempting to violently change the state’s entity
Remote Trials and Sharp Criticism:
The court decided from the outset to hold the trial “remotely,” relying on anti-terrorism laws. The defense committee rejected the decision, viewing it as a blatant violation of the defendants’ rights.
Dalila Mosdaq, a member of the defense committee, described the session as “secret,” confirming that the court prohibited the presence of journalists and family members, in violation of the right to a public trial.
Public and Media Outrage:
Outside the court, families of the detainees gathered in a protest demanding a public trial with the presence of the defendants. Journalists organized a parallel demonstration condemning their exclusion from covering the trial.
The journalists’ syndicate stated that the decision “impairs press freedom and undermines the right to access information.”
International Condemnation and Political Questions:
International human rights organizations condemned the sentences, labeling them unjust. They criticized what they termed the “absence of transparency and fairness in the trial” and accused Tunisian authorities of using the judiciary as a political tool to eliminate dissenters.
Several international reports indicated that President Kais Saied employs the judiciary to tighten control over his political opponents and marginalize opposing voices under the pretext of combating terrorism.
Clear Political Implications:
The case erupted in February 2023, involving prominent political figures:
Issam Chebbi (Republican Party)
Jawhar Ben Mbarak
Ghazi Al-Shawashi
Abdelhamid Jlasi
Nour al-Din al-Bahiri
Amid official silence, criticisms continue to surge both domestically and internationally. Questions are rising regarding the independence of the judiciary in Tunisia and the state’s direction towards closing the political space, paving the way for dictator Kais Saied to consolidate power over all state apparatuses.
