Tunisian Court Sentences Over 40 Opposition Figures to Heavy Prison Terms in Controversial Conspiracy Trial
A Tunisian court sentenced over 40 opposition figures to prison terms of 4 to 66 years on April 19, 2025, accusing them of conspiring against the state. Defense lawyers and human rights organizations labeled the trial a politically motivated act against dissent amid a backdrop of increasing repression since President Kais Saied's power consolidation.
hassan benyoub 
Tunis, Tunisia – A Tunisian court handed down severe prison sentences, ranging from 4 to 66 years, to over 40 opposition figures on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in an unprecedented trial accusing them of “conspiring against the state” and President Kais Saied. Defense lawyers and human rights groups have condemned the verdicts as a politically motivated crackdown on dissent.
Details of the Trial and Sentences
The trial, dubbed the “conspiracy case,” targeted a diverse group of politicians, former ministers, lawyers, and activists, many detained since early 2023. According to a list provided to AFP by defense attorneys, pending official confirmation, sentences included 66 years for businessman Kamel Eltaïef, 48 years for Ettakatol’s Khayam Turki, and 33 years for exiled figures like French intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy, feminist Bochra Belhaj Hmida, and former presidential aide Nadia Akacha. Prominent opposition leaders Issam Chebbi, Jawhar Ben Mbarek, Ghazi Chaouachi, and activist Chaïma Issa each received 18 years, while Ennahdha’s Abdelhamid Jelassi and Noureddine Bhiri were sentenced to 13 and 43 years, respectively. Mosaïque FM director Noureddine Boutar got 10 years, and car dealer Hattab Slama received 4 years for proximity to another accused’s residence.
Criticism of a “Judicial Farce”
Defense lawyers slammed the trial as a “mascarade.” Samia Abbou criticized the judge’s decision to deliberate without a prosecution summary or defense arguments. Haifa Chebbi, daughter of sentenced politician Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, called the verdict “pre-prepared,” lamenting the erosion of freedoms in Tunisia. Kamel Jendoubi, tried in absentia, denounced it as a “judicial assassination” orchestrated by a compliant judiciary under Saied’s influence. The trial, held under heavy police presence, barred international journalists and diplomats, with some accused penalized for meeting foreign ambassadors.
Context of Repression Since Saied’s Power Grab
Since President Kais Saied’s 2021 power consolidation, which saw him dissolve parliament and assume sweeping powers, Tunisia—once a beacon of the Arab Spring—has faced accusations of democratic backsliding. Dozens of opposition figures, journalists, and activists have been jailed under a vague decree criminalizing “false news.” Human Rights Watch described the trial as occurring in a “repressive context,” with Saied “weaponizing the judiciary.” The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in February 2025 criticized the “persecution of opponents” for exercising their rights, a claim the government dismissed, asserting the charges relate to “public law crimes” unrelated to political activity.
Political and Social Implications
Analyst Hatem Nafti argued that acquittals would undermine Saied’s “conspiracy narrative,” which retains significant public support due to controlled media. The trial, opened on March 4, 2025, relied on videoconference testimonies, with defense demands for in-person appearances ignored. The “empty” case file, as described by lawyers, has fueled allegations of judicial overreach. Defendants can appeal the first-instance rulings, but the process’s fairness remains in question.
The heavy sentences signal a deepening crackdown on dissent in Tunisia, raising alarms about the state of democracy and human rights. Follow our coverage for updates on Tunisia’s political crisis.
