Tunisian ex-PM sentenced to 34 years in prison, denies allegations of terrorism.
A Tunisian court recently handed down a significant ruling, sentencing former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh to 34 years in prison due to accusations related to his facilitation of fighters’ departures to Syria. Larayedh categorically denies these charges, asserting that he has never been sympathetic to violence or terrorism. He contends that his prosecution is politically motivated, a position echoed by his party, Ennahdha, which has positioned itself as a critical opposition force against the current administration of President Kais Saied.
Larayedh held the office of Prime Minister from 2013 to 2014 and has been in detention since 2022. His recent sentencing follows a series of events that many observers view as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Tunisia. Just a week prior, Ahmed Souab, a vocal critic of Saied, was arrested, and additional prison sentences were imposed on several political opponents, media figures, and businesspeople linked to various conspiracy charges. According to the state news agency TAP, these sentences ranged widely, from 18 to 36 years, though specific details about the individuals convicted alongside Larayedh were not disclosed.
The Ennahdha party firmly denies all allegations of terrorism, asserting that the charges against Larayedh and others are indicative of a systematic campaign to silence opposition voices. Since President Saied assumed sweeping powers by suspending parliament in 2021, concerns have mounted regarding the independence of Tunisia’s judiciary and the encroachment on democratic freedoms established in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011.
Human rights organizations have raised alarms about the escalating crackdowns on dissent and the implications for Tunisia’s democratic trajectory. Many believe that the gains made since the revolution are being threatened, as the government appears to consolidate power and stifle opposition.
In response to this increasingly authoritarian climate, protests have erupted throughout the country, with demonstrators taking to the streets to voice their discontent with Saied’s administration. Recent rallies in Tunis have seen protestors calling for Saied’s resignation, while supporters of the president organized counter-demonstrations endorsing his leadership.
This political tension in Tunisia reflects broader struggles in the region, and observers are closely monitoring the developments as the situation continues to evolve.
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