Tunisian Court Sentences 40 Opposition Figures to Life in 'Conspiracy' Case

A Tunisian court has sentenced around 40 opposition figures—including politicians, journalists, business leaders, and activists—to prison terms ranging from 13 to 66 years on charges of conspiracy against state security and belonging to terrorist groups. The trial, conducted partially in absentia and remotely, has been widely criticized by rights groups and defense lawyers as politically motivated and lacking due process, with some describing it as a 'masquerade.' Among those sentenced are prominent opposition leaders, former ministers, and individuals in exile, including French intellectual Bernard Henri-Lévy and feminist activist Bochra Belhaj Hmida. Notable sentences include 66 years for businessman Kamel Eltaief and 48 years for activist Khayam Turki. Critics argue that President Kais Saied is using the judiciary to suppress dissent and consolidate power since his 2021 power grab, a move seen as a rollback of the freedoms gained after the Arab Spring. Those convicted have the option to appeal, though many activists and international observers remain concerned about the state of democracy and human rights in Tunisia.