Latest news with #Larayedh
TimesLIVE
05-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Former Tunisian PM Larayedh jailed for 34 years over Syria jihadist case
A Tunisian court on Friday handed down a 34-year prison sentence against former prime minister Ali Larayedh, a senior figure in the opposition Ennahda party, on charges of facilitating the departure of jihadists to Syria over the past decade, his lawyer told Reuters. Larayedh, who served as prime minister from 2013 to 2014, is a senior figure in Ennahda, an Islamist party that has been a main opponent of President Kais Saied. The ruling comes a week after the detention of prominent lawyer Ahmed Souab, a fierce critic of Saied, alongside other prison sentences against opposition leaders, businessmen, and media figures on charges of conspiracy. TAP state news agency quoted a judicial official as saying that the sentences apply to eight people and are for 18 to 36 years. Human rights groups have described last week sentences and detention of Souab as a dangerous escalation of the crackdown against opposition. The government denied accusations and said that the judiciary is independent.
The National
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Former Tunisian PM Larayedh jailed for 34 years on terrorism charges
Former Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh was sentenced to 34 years in prison on Friday, convicted of abetting the departure of extremist fighters to Syria for the past decade, his lawyer told Reuters. The senior figure in the opposition Ennahda party has strongly denied the accusation, saying it was 'politically motivated'. The Tunisian state news agency said that a judicial official has handed down sentences of between 18 to 36 years, and that they apply to eight officials. The court did not name those convicted alongside Mr Larayedh. 'I was neither sympathetic, nor complicit, nor neutral, nor lenient towards violence, terrorism,' Mr Larayedh told the judge on Friday, rejecting what he and his Ennahda party have called a politically motivated prosecution. The former PM, 69, took office between 2013 to 2014, and was leader of the Islamist party Ennahda, which briefly governed Tunisia following a popular uprising in 2011 that sparked the Arab Spring. He is a critic of current Tunisian President Kais Saied. Mr Larayedh has been in detention since 2022. 'I am not a criminal … I am a victim in this case,' he wrote in a letter addressed to the Tunis prosecutor's office on April 18. Ennahda denies the charges linked to terrorism, and claims this case is part of a crackdown on dissent following Mr Saied's seizure of broad powers in 2021, when he dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree. The sentences is the latest in a series of prosecutions against people critical of Mr Saied. Last week, lawyer Ahmed Souab, a critic of Mr Saied, was detained alongside other opposition leaders, businessmen, and media figures on charges of conspiracy. Human rights groups have described last week sentences and detention of Mr Souab as a dangerous escalation of the repression of the opposition. The government rejects claims of political interference, and maintains that Tunisia's judiciary is independent. The UN said about 5,500 Tunisians fought with extremist groups including ISIS in Iraq, Syria and Libya between 2011 and 2016.
Al Jazeera
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Former Tunisian PM handed 34-year sentence, rejects ‘terrorism' charges
A Tunisian court has sentenced former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh to 34 years in prison over accusations he facilitated the departure of fighters to Syria – a charge the opposition figure strongly denies. 'I was neither sympathetic, nor complicit, nor neutral, nor lenient towards violence, terrorism,' Larayedh told the judge on Friday, rejecting what he and his Ennahdha party have called a politically motivated prosecution. The ruling is the latest blow to the Ennahdha party, a major opposition force to President Kais Saied. Larayedh, who served as prime minister from 2013 to 2014, has been in detention since 2022. His sentencing comes just a week after the arrest of vocal Saied critic Ahmed Souab and new prison terms handed down to political opponents, media figures and businesspeople on various conspiracy charges. According to state news agency TAP, the sentences apply to eight individuals, with prison terms ranging from 18 to 36 years. The court did not name those convicted alongside Larayedh. Ennahdha denies all terrorism-related allegations, arguing that the case is part of a broader campaign against dissent that has intensified since Saied suspended parliament and assumed sweeping powers in 2021. The government maintains that Tunisia's judiciary is independent, rejecting claims of political interference. Human rights groups, however, say the crackdown on opposition voices – including the jailing of Souab – marks a dangerous escalation. Many warn that democratic gains in the birthplace of the Arab Spring in the years since the 2011 revolution are being steadily rolled back. Saied faced protests on Thursday as opponents took to the streets of Tunis, accusing him of using the judiciary and police to silence dissent. The demonstration, the second in a week, comes amid growing alarm over what critics see as an authoritarian drift in the country that sparked the Arab Spring. Marching down Habib Bourguiba Avenue, anti-Saied protesters chanted slogans including 'Saied go away, you are a dictator' and 'The people want the fall of the regime' – echoing the calls that fuelled the 2011 uprising that ousted former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Supporters of Saied held a counter-rally on the same boulevard, shouting, 'No to foreign interference' and 'The people want Saied again'. The opposition accuses Saied of undermining the democracy won in the 2011 revolution, since he seized extra powers in 2021 when he shut down the elected parliament and moved to rule by decree before assuming authority over the judiciary.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Former Tunisian PM Larayedh jailed for 34-years over Syria jihadist case
Ali Larayedh former Tunisian prime minister and leader of the Ennahda Movement Party, speaks during a news conference in Tunis June 19, 2014. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File Photo TUNIS - A Tunisian court on Friday handed down a 34-year prison sentence against former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh, a senior figure in the opposition Ennahda party, on charges of facilitating the departure of jihadists to Syria over the past decade, his lawyer told Reuters. Larayedh, who served as prime minister from 2013 to 2014, is a senior figure in Ennahda, an Islamist party that has been a main opponent of President Kais Saied. The ruling comes a week after the detention of prominent lawyer Ahmed Souab, a fierce critic of Saied, alongside other prison sentences against opposition leaders, businessmen, and media figures on charges of conspiracy. TAP state news agency quoted a judicial official as saying that the sentences apply to eight people and are for 18 to 36 years. Human rights groups have described last week sentences and detention of Souab as a dangerous escalation of the crackdown against opposition. The government denied accusations and said that the judiciary is independent. Ennahda denies the charges linked to terrorism, saying this case is politically motivated and part of a crackdown on dissent following Saied's seizure of broad powers in 2021, when he dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree. "I was neither sympathetic, nor complicit, nor neutral, nor lenient toward violence, terrorism", Larayedh told the judge on Friday. Larayedh has been detained since 2022. Following the 2011 revolution, thousands of Tunisians traveled to Syria, Iraq, and Libya to joint and fight alongside the Islamic State groups. The Islamist-Ennahda party faced strong criticism for allegedly facilitating their travel during its time in power, a claim the party firmly denies. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
