Tunisian opposition figures are facing trial on national security charges, including plotting against the state and terrorism allegations. Rights groups view these actions as politically motivated amidst a crackdown by President Kais Saied. The case involves high-profile defendants, with severe potential penalties for those accused. The international community is urging an end to the repression of dissenting voices in Tunisia.
Several prominent opposition figures in Tunisia are set to stand trial on national security charges, including accusations of belonging to a terrorist group and plotting against state security. The trial, commencing on Tuesday, has been met with criticism from rights organizations which label the proceedings as politically motivated. Approximately 40 defendants, comprising former diplomats, politicians, lawyers, and media personalities, are involved, many of whom have publicly criticized President Kais Saied.
The charges against the defendants carry severe penalties, including potentially capital punishment, as asserted by legal experts. President Saied, who came to power in 2019 following the Arab Spring, has undertaken a significant crackdown on political dissent since his power consolidation in 2021. Though he was re-elected in 2024 amidst record low voter turnout, major opposition figures remain jailed, and many others have been barred from political participation.
Among those charged are prominent figures such as Jawhar Ben Mbarek, Abdelhamid Jelassi, and Issam Chebbi, all of whom are vocal critics of the current government. Ben Mbarek, in a letter from prison, characterized the proceedings as “judicial harassment” aimed at systematically silencing dissenting voices, contending that the allegations lack foundation. Additionally, other notable individuals, including activists and a former member of parliament, face similar accusations.
Some of the accused have been detained since mass arrests conducted in February 2023, following President Saied’s labeling of them as “terrorists.” While some remain free ahead of the trial, several have chosen to flee the country, according to their legal representatives. During a recent public engagement, President Saied reiterated his non-involvement in judicial matters, asserting that he does not intervene in legal processes.
Critics opposing President Saied’s regime continue to face arrests, often under laws addressing “false news.” In a separate case, Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Islamist-affiliated Ennahdha party, was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment for conspiracy against state security. The United Nations recently called on the Tunisian government to halt the escalating pattern of unjust arrests, detainments, and imprisonments affecting human rights activists and journalists, a statement that Tunisia’s foreign ministry rejected as inaccurate and overreaching.
The ongoing trial of prominent Tunisian opposition figures highlights a significant crackdown on dissent in the country, with many activists and politicians facing severe allegations under the guise of national security. The proceedings have drawn considerable scrutiny from human rights organizations, who view them as politically motivated actions aimed at silencing criticism of President Saud. The international community continues to call for an end to the repression of critical voices in Tunisia, bringing to light the escalating tensions between the government and its opponents.
Original Source: www.france24.com
