Latest news with #MouadhGhannouchi
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Rached Ghannouchi: Tunisian opposition leader jailed for 14 years
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, adding to a string of other jail terms he has received in seperate who heads the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, was among 18 politicians and officials sentenced on Tuesday for "conspiring against state security". Ghannouchi's defence team denied the charges brought against the 84-year-old, saying the proceedings did not meet the standards of a fair the past few years, rights groups have repeatedly denounced the jailing of opposition figures in Tunisia, saying the sentences highlight an aggressive crackdown against critics of President Kais Saied. Ghannouchi has been in jail since 2023 and refused to attend Tuesday's sentencing recent months, he has received three sentences totalling more than 20 years, for charges such as money to news agency Tunis Afrique Presse, Ghannouchi's children, Mouadh and Tasnim, were also sentenced on Tuesday, although they had already fled the country. Both received 35-year sentences in Foreign Affairs Minister Rafik Abdessalem Bouchlaka and ex-intelligence chief Kamel Guizani were also sentenced in Saied suspended the Tunisian parliament in 2021 and began ruling by then, Tunisian and foreign rights groups have reported growing political repression in the country that sparked the 2011 Arab Spring opposition leaders have been jailed since 2021, along with some journalists, lawyers, activists and social media has rejected accusations of repression, saying his actions are aimed at bringing an end to the chaos and corruption under previous governments. More stories from Tunisia: Is democracy in Tunisia being destroyed?Pink flamingos 'seized from smugglers' in TunisiaTunisia lawyer arrested during live news broadcast Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Rached Ghannouchi among Tunisian opposition leaders sent to prison
Several prominent Tunisian opposition leaders, including Rached Ghannouchi, have been sentenced to prison. The leader of Tunisia's Ennahda movement, one of a number of officials charged with conspiring against state security, was given a 14-year term. His political party was previously in government following the fall in 2011 of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as part of the Arab uprisings, but it relinquished power in 2013. Mr Ghannouchi has served as parliamentary speaker and is among many prominent opposition figures to have faced prosecution since current President Kais Saied took power six years ago. Mr Ghannouchi's defence team denied the conspiracy charges and said legal proceedings had not met the standards of a fair trial. 'All accusations were based on a false and contradictory testimony by a secret, anonymous witness who failed to present any evidence for his baseless and contradictory allegations, and who ultimately retracted most of them,' his lawyers said. The court sentenced 21 people to between 12 and 35 years in the mass trial. Ten others were already in custody, while 11 accused have fled the country. The judge overseeing the case issued arrest warrants for several party members tried in absentia, including Mr Ghannouchi's son Mouadh and former foreign minister Rafik Abdessalem. The other defendants faced charges including participating in an organisation linked to terrorist acts, inciting violence, attempting to overthrow the government, and recruiting and training individuals for terrorist purposes within Tunisia and abroad. Mr Ghannouchi, 86, has also been charged in relation to several other cases but refuses to appear before courts that he considers to be politically manipulated. He has already served prison sentences totalling more than 20 years, with money laundering among the convictions. His lawyers have denounced what they call 'unjustified judicial harassment' by authorities and are calling for the release of imprisoned Islamist leaders.
