Tunisia handed down lengthy prison sentences on Friday to prominent opponents of President Kais Saied, convicting them of plotting against state security.
Issam Chebbi and Jawhar Ben Mbarek, leaders of the opposition National Salvation Front coalition, along with lawyer Ridha Belhaj and activist Chaima Issa, were each sentenced to 18 years in prison, according to their lawyer.
Businessman Kamel Eltaief received the harshest sentence — 66 years behind bars.
They are among 40 individuals, including high-profile politicians, business leaders, and journalists, who are being prosecuted on security and terrorism-related charges.
Critics argue the charges are politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to consolidate Saied’s grip on power.
President Saied was re-elected virtually unopposed last year, following the imprisonment or disqualification of rivals under what observers described as flimsy pretexts.
Since dissolving parliament in 2022, Saied has largely ruled by decree. In 2023, he enacted a revised constitution that significantly expanded presidential powers.
Africanews
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