Tunisia’s top court upholds opposition convictions in a state security case

Tunisia’s highest court has upheld the convictions of dozens of opposition figures, lawyers and human rights activists accused of conspiring against state security TUNIS, Tunisia -- Tunisia’s highest court has upheld the convictions of dozens of prominent opposition figures, lawyers and human rights defenders in a high-profile conspiracy case against state security. The Court of Cassation rejected the defendants’ appeals, upholding prison sentences of up to 45 years handed down by an appeals court last year, Tunisia’s state-owned news agency TAP reported late Thursday, quoting judicial sources. The case has drawn international criticism and further deepened concerns over judicial independence and political freedoms in Tunisia.

It’s part of a broader crackdown that has seen opposition activists, journalists and lawyers arrested or prosecuted since President Kais Saied consolidated power in July 2021, when he suspended parliament, sacked the government and began ruling by decree. Faiza Rahem, the wife of detained opposition activist Issam Chebbi, said in a news conference on Friday that the families’ legal battle would now become political. We will not tire or give up,” she said, adding that repression had only strengthened the families’ resolve.

The defendants have denied the allegations and their lawyers have repeatedly challenged the proceedings and the charges. Saied has defended the prosecutions as part of efforts to protect national security and hold accountable those he accuses of conspiring against the state. He has previously described some of his opponents as “traitors” and “terrorists” and accused those detained in the case of seeking to destabilize the country and fuel social unrest.

Saied, who was elected in 2019 on a promise to uproot a failing political system, has rejected accusations that he is seeking to suppress the opposition. He has repeatedly defended the measures as necessary to combat corruption and protect the country from foreign threats. Lawyers representing the defendants had criticized the timing of the hearing, saying they were notified only three days before Thursday’s court hearing, arguing that the short notice was hasty and left them without time to prepare their defense.

Among those sentenced are prominent opposition figures Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, Chaima Issa, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Ghazi Chaouachi, Ayachi Hammami, Khayam Turki and Abdelhamid Jelassi. Several defendants had spent years in pretrial detention. Others had been released on bail while the case proceeded through the courts.

They were later arrested to serve their sentences after the appeals court verdict. Amnesty International had called on the Court of Cassation to overturn the convictions, describing the case as politically motivated and saying the trial was marred by due process and other violations. Amnesty said many of those imprisoned were experiencing deteriorating health and that successive heat waves had worsened conditions inside poorly ventilated prison cells.