Latest news with #RachedGhannouchi
Express Tribune
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Tunisia puts more opposition figures on mass trial
A new trial of nearly two dozen Tunisian opposition figures accused of plotting against the state opened on Tuesday, weeks after a separate mass trial jailed nearly 40 defendants on similar charges. The latest trial — known as the "conspiracy against state security II" — involved 22 defendants, including 83-year-old Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party leader Rached Ghannouchi, currently jailed in another case. Youssef Chahed, a former prime minister, and Nadia Akacha, once the head of the presidential office, were also among the defendants, according to court documents. The defendants were accused of terror-related charges, incitement to murder, and "plotting against state internal security", among other charges, according to a court document. The majority of the defendants are being tried in absentia, having fled the country, lawyer Samir Dilou said. Ghannouchi was already sentenced in early February to 22 years in prison — also for plotting against state security in a different case. He had been the speaker of parliament when President Kais Saied staged a sweeping power grab in 2021. In this case, Ghannouchi as well as other Ennahdha officials stand accused of setting up a "secret security apparatus" in service of the party, which had dominated Tunisia's post-revolution politics. Tunisia had emerged as the Arab world's only democracy following the ouster of longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, after it kicked off the Arab Spring uprisings. Tuesday's hearing was conducted remotely with only four defendants attending virtually, according to lawyers. Last month's similar trial had drawn criticism from the United Nations, which said it was "marred by violations of fair trial and due process rights". But Saied dismissed the "comments and statements by foreign parties" as "blatant interference in Tunisia's internal affairs". In a statement on Monday, Tunisia's main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front (FSN), called for "an end to sham and unfair trials", demanding "the release of all political prisoners".
Arab News
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Tunisia quits African Union rights court
The statement did not provide a reason for the government's withdrawal from the Arusha-based courtThe Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) denounced Tunisia's withdrawal from the court as a decision 'taken secretly'TUNIS: Tunisia has said it is withdrawing from the human rights court of the African Union, as rights groups denounce another rollback on freedoms in the increasingly authoritarian North African announced in a declaration circulated by activists since Thursday 'the withdrawal of its recognition of the competence of the (African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights) to accept cases from individuals and non-governmental organizations.'The statement did not provide a reason for the government's withdrawal from the Arusha-based court, which is tasked with enforcing the AU's human rights Tunisian foreign ministry did not respond to AFP's requests to had granted its citizens and NGOs the right to petition the court in 2017 after it emerged as the only surviving democracy from the Arab Spring of Saied was elected president in 2019 but in 2021 he staged a sweeping power grab and human rights groups have since raised concerns over a rollback on freedoms.A number of his leading critics are currently behind are being prosecuted in an ongoing mass trial on charges of plotting against the state. Human rights groups have denounced the case as politically May 2023, the relatives of four detained opposition figures, including Ennahdha party leader Rached Ghannouchi, filed a case with the African court demanding their August, the court ruled against Tunisia, urging authorities to stop preventing the detainees from accessing their lawyers and Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) denounced Tunisia's withdrawal from the court as a decision 'taken secretly.'It said the move was 'a dangerous step backwards and an attempt to withdraw from independent judicial institutions capable of fighting impunity and guaranteeing justice.'Tunisian human rights group, the CRLDHT, said the withdrawal 'nullifies a historic commitment' to the court and was 'a shameful renunciation' of Tunisian pledges to protect human rights.'This decision now deprives Tunisian citizens and human rights organizations of the ability to bring cases directly before the African court to challenge state violations,' it said.
Al Bawaba
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi Sentenced to 22-year prison sentence
ALBAWABA- A Tunisian court has sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda Movement and former Speaker of Parliament, to 22 years in prison in connection with the controversial "Instalingo" case. The ruling is part of a broader crackdown that has also resulted in severe sentences for former government officials, journalists, and political activists. The case dates back to September 2021, when Tunisian security forces raided the offices of Instalingo, a media production company in Sousse, seizing equipment and arresting several employees. Authorities accused those involved of crimes related to money laundering, destabilizing state security, and inciting unrest. Ghannouchi, 82, who has been a vocal critic of President Kais Saied's administration, refused to appear in court. His son Moaz Ghannouchi was sentenced to 25 years, his daughter Soumaya Ghannouchi to 35 years, and his son-in-law, former Foreign Minister Rafik Bouchlaka, to 34 years. The court also handed down some of the harshest sentences in Tunisia's recent history. Former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, former Minister Lotfi Zitoun, and media figure Waddah Khanfar each received 35-year prison terms. Journalist Shatha Belhaj Mubarak was sentenced to five years, while journalist Shehrazad Akasha received 27 years. Other high-profile figures convicted include former Interior Ministry spokesperson Mohamed Ali Aroui, who was sentenced to 13 years, and political leader Sayyid Ferjani, who received 13 years and a hefty fine. Also Read U.S. reportedly planning troop withdrawal from Syria The harshest sentence—54 years—was issued against Instalingo founder Salem Al-Kahili, who is currently facing an international arrest warrant. The Ennahda Movement and opposition figures have condemned the trial as politically motivated, arguing that President Saied is using the judiciary to eliminate his political opponents following his controversial power grab in July 2021, when he dissolved parliament, took control of the judiciary, and introduced a new constitution through a referendum. بيان حركة النهضة 🇹🇳بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم تونس في 5 فيفري 2025 في الوقت الذي تتفاقم الأزمة الاقتصادية والاجتماعية، وتزداد فيه معاناة الشعب التونسي من فقدان الأساسيات الحياتية بسبب السياسات الفاشلة لسلطة الانقلاب وفي خطوة تعبر عن سياسة الهروب إلى الأمام، قضت الدّائرة…
Asharq Al-Awsat
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Tunisian Court Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians
A Tunisian court sentenced a number of top politicians, former officials and journalists to long prison terms on Wednesday, defense lawyers said. Among those sentenced on charges of conspiring against state were Rached Ghannouchi, veteran head of the 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, according to Reuters. 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.
