Tunisian court hands lengthy prison terms to top politicians
TUNIS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - A Tunisian court sentenced a number of top politicians, former officials and journalists to long prison terms on Wednesday, defence lawyers said, the latest move in what critics say is an attempt to stamp out opposition to President Kais Saied.
Among those sentenced on charges of conspiring against state were Rached Ghannouchi, veteran head of the Islamist-leaning Ennahda party, who was handed a 22-year term, and former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, who received 35 years.
Ghannouchi, 83, has been in prison since 2023, receiving two sentences of a total of five years in separate cases.
Mechichi has been living abroad since 2021, a few months after Saied sacked him and shut the elected parliament, a step the opposition described as a coup.
"These are unjust and political rulings that aim to eliminate political opponents", said Mokthar Jmai, one of the lawyers, adding that they would appeal against the sentences.
Ennahda called the trial a blatant violation of the independence of the judiciary, saying in a statement that it came in the context of further attacks on rights and freedoms.
A total of 41 people were charged in the case. Jmai said the court handed a 27-year sentence to journalist Chahrazad Akacha, who has fled abroad, and gave a five-year sentence to another journalist, Chadha Haj Mbarak, who was already jailed.
"My sister is innocent, and this sentence is harsh for a journalist who was just doing her job", said Bassam Haj Mbarak, Chadha's brother.
The court also sentenced Lazhar Longo, a former intelligence director and Mohamed Ali Aroui, a former interior ministry spokesman, to 15 years in prison each.
Most political party leaders in Tunisia have been jailed in what they say are fabricated cases.
They accuse Saied of tearing apart the democracy built after a 2011 revolution that toppled long-ruling autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, of seeking to impose one-man rule, and of filling prisons with politicians and journalists.
Saied denies conducting a coup and says his actions were needed to save Tunisia from years of chaos.
He has called his critics criminals, traitors and terrorists and warned that any judge who freed them would be considered to be abetting them.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
Ukraine repatriates more bodies of fallen soldiers in line with an agreement with Russia
Ukraine has repatriated more bodies of fallen soldiers in line with an agreement reached during peace talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, Ukrainian officials said Friday. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement that Russia returned 1,200 bodies, and 'according to the Russian side, the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, in particular military personnel.' The repatriation of the bodies was carried out with the help of Ukraine's Armed Forces, the country's Security Service, the Interior Ministry and other government agencies. Forensic experts will now work to identify the remains, the statement said. The repatriation of the bodies marks one of the largest returns of remains since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago. Earlier this week, Russia returned 1,212 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers and received 27 bodies of its own killed troops. The agreement to exchange prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers was the only tangible outcome of the talks in Istanbul that took place June 2. Russia and Ukraine conducted a POW swap on Thursday that included severely wounded and gravely ill captives, although the sides did not report the numbers. In addition to agreeing to exchange POWs and bodies of fallen soldiers, the two sides traded memorandums at the talks that set out conditions for a ceasefire. However, the inclusion of clauses that both sides see as nonstarters make any quick deal unlikely. Despite discussions of a potential truce in the war, Moscow's forces in recent days have launched waves of drones and missiles at Ukraine, with a record bombardment of almost 500 drones on Monday and a wave of 315 drones and seven missiles overnight on Tuesday. Ukraine's air force said Friday that Russia fired 55 Shahed and decoy drones and four ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight. The air force said air defenses neutralized 43 drones. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the attack. Russia's Defense Ministry said Friday that its air defenses downed 125 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions and the annexed Crimea late Thursday and early Friday.
Reuters
12 hours ago
- Reuters
Skadden law firm fellowship revamps application to omit 'racial justice,' 'equity'
June 13 (Reuters) - The Skadden Foundation, a public interest law fellowship program entirely funded by law firm Skadden Arps, has altered its application criteria to remove language related to racial justice and other topics that became flashpoints for U.S. law firms under the Trump administration. Applicants last year were required to explain "the role of public interest work in addressing systemic racism" and asked, "to the extent your project relates to racial justice, please describe the intended impact of your project on racial equity in our country." That essay question is absent in updated application materials for the two-year fellowship, which funds law graduates to work at non-profit organizations, according to a Reuters review of the current applications and archived versions from one year ago. The foundation also removed language encouraging applications from lawyers "who are members of groups that historically have been underrepresented in the legal profession," and who have "deep connections with or insights into the marginalized client communities they seek to serve," a comparison showed. Spokespeople for the Skadden Foundation and the law firm did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The foundation's former executive director Kathleen Rubenstein resigned last week, telling Reuters that she was leaving "rather than endorse actions that I believe will undermine its mission." She did not elaborate and had no immediate comment on Friday on the updated application. Susan Plum, who took over as interim executive director of the foundation, said in a statement last week that "maintaining a broad, nonpartisan approach in an increasingly polarized climate is more difficult than ever and some believe it runs counter to the foundation's purpose and values. We fundamentally disagree." Plum did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Skadden, a 1,700 lawyer firm based in New York, made a deal in March with President Donald Trump to devote $100 million in free legal work to causes supported by the White House and committed to what Trump called merit-based employment practices. That agreement, one of nine made by prominent firms after Trump began targeting law firms with executive orders over their past cases and hires, required Skadden to also fund at least five fellowships related to "Assisting Veterans; ensuring fairness in our Justice System; combatting Antisemitism, and other similar types of projects." Skadden had agreed that its fellows would "represent a wide range of political views, including conservative ideals," Trump had said in a March 28 post on his Truth Social platform. The Skadden Foundation's website now includes new language, saying that it prohibits "discrimination against applicants and fellows on any basis prohibited by applicable law." It adds now that applicants should work at a "strong, nonpartisan host organization." Skadden's deal with Trump also resolved an inquiry launched by the acting chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which in March had warned Skadden and 19 other major law firms that their employment policies, meant to boost diversity, equity and inclusion, may be illegal. Other law firms and major U.S. companies have dropped or considered altering their DEI policies after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 2023 ruling curtailing affirmative action. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January cracking down on such programs in the federal government and in the private sector.
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Kim Jong-un finally ‘launches a ship WITHOUT sinking it': Despot tours ‘repaired destroyer' a month on from humiliation
TYRANT Kim Jong-un has reportedly relaunched his 5,000-tonne colossal warship - after it spectacularly capsized during its first launch last month. The North Korean dictator witnessed his new destroyer's successful maiden voyage - after a humiliating blunder last month which saw the vessel end up on its side. 9 Kim Jong-un, pictured with his daughter Kim Ju Ae (L), relaunched his huge warship which capsized last month Credit: EPA 9 The successful launch was witnessed by Kim at Rajin Port Credit: Reuters 9 The huge 5,000 ton warship half-sunk into the water in May Credit: EPA Satellite pictures previously revealed the huge warship, named Kang Kon, floundering sideways - with its stern partially sunk and its bow lying on the harbour jetty. Furious Kim deemed to find and punish those found responsible for the embarrassing fail. He slammed the "criminal act" caused by "absolute carelessness" in a rare admission of failure - and arrested four officials. But state media have now claimed that the intimidating warship has finally been restored. READ MORE WORLD NEWS KIM'S RAGE Bungling NK officials 'face being shot' over humiliating Kim warship disaster Experts have questioned whether the boat's repairs are actually sufficient, given the reported speedy turnaround. Kim and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, are understood to have witnessed the triumphant launch at Rajin Port in the north of the country, according to KCNA. Images showed the smiling despot wearing a thin summer hat as he walked cheerfully in front of clapping navy officers. It comes after the half-sunk was seen being hauled upright using giant balloons after it capsized. North Korea's state broadcaster also reported that sections of the hull had been crushed. The highly-secretive authorities appeared to have tried to hide the disaster by placing blue tarpaulin across the wreck. North Korea's half-sunk warship hauled UPRIGHT with giant balloons as cause of disaster that humiliated Kim is revealed Pictures from May 29 showed workers standing on the quay pulling ropes attached to the boat. And at least 30 balloons appeared to have been connected along one side - presumably to haul it upright. On launch day, crews had attempted to slide the ship sideways into the water. A malfunction meant that the stern entered while the bow remained on the launch gear. It is likely that the launch mechanism snagged the bow, preventing it from plopping into the sea, reports 38north. This theory is supported by satellite imagery from May 29, which seems to show damage to the bow. Seething Kim demanded that the repairs be completed by the end of June - and it now appears that engineers have managed to do this in time. 9 Around 30 large balloons can be seen attached to the boat along with ropes Credit: Pleiades NEO/ Airbus DS 9 Kim Jong Un (C) and daughter Ju Ae (center L) boarding the destroyer Credit: AFP 9 The dictator was fuming in the wake of the embarrassment, and said it brought shame on the country. Four people have been arrested so far, including chief engineer Kang Jong Chol, hull workshop head Han Kyong Hak, and deputy manager Kim Yong Hak. It's unclear what punishment they will face, though an expert told The Sun their fates could be fatal. Michael Madden, founder of North Korea Leadership Watch, said: "Some people will lose their party memberships and be sent to jail for short sentences." But, more alarmingly, he claimed "some people are going to be shot to death behind this". 9 A view of the warship before its failed launch Credit: AFP 9 The boat after being restored to an upright position Credit: Pleiades NEO/ Airbus DS 9 Kim boarding the destroyer 'Kang Kon' at the Rajin shipyard Credit: AFP The launch failure marked a huge setback for Kim, who has been modernizing his navy to keep up with the West. The huge Kang Kon naval destroyer is believed to be the same class as the Choe Hyon - North Korea's largest warship yet. North Korea's state media - which also serves as Kim's leading propaganda machine - reported that the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons". Now it is seemingly upright and operational, the destroyer will surpass the current largest vessel in North Korea, a 1,360-tonne frigate.
