Tunisia jails opposition leaders for up to 66 years in mass trial

Rights groups condemn Tunisia's mass trial as politically motivated crackdown targeting opposition.

Activist and political opponent Chaima Issa, along with families of detained opposition figures, scuffle with police as they are blocked from entering the court during the second remote hearing in the ‘conspiracy against state security’ case in Tunis, Tunisia, on April 11, 2025. Photo by Chedly Ben Ibrahim/Nur

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

A Tunisian court has sentenced dozens of political opponents, lawyers, and activists to lengthy prison terms—some up to 66 years—in a sweeping mass trial that rights groups and legal experts have condemned as politically motivated and legally flawed. The move marks one of the most significant crackdowns on dissent since President Kais Saied's consolidation of power in 2021, reinforcing fears over the erosion of democracy in the country where the Arab Spring first took root.

The trial, which included around 40 defendants, featured prominent critics of Saied’s government and was condemned by Human Rights Watch and other organizations as lacking fairness, transparency, and due process. Many of those convicted had already been detained without formal charges for over two years, while others remain in exile or at large. Sentences ranged widely, with the harshest penalties targeting business and political elites accused of vague charges such as “conspiracy against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group.”

Harsh sentences spark outrage

According to statements published by Tunisian prosecutors and confirmed by defense lawyers, the court handed down sentences from 13 to 66 years. Some defendants received lesser penalties, starting at four years, though these remain subject to official confirmation. A defense lawyer, Abdessatar Messaoudi, described the proceedings as a "masquerade," noting that the accused were not allowed to speak or defend themselves before the judge moved to deliberations.

Among those sentenced were several high-profile figures, including Issam Chebbi and Jawhar Ben Mbarek of the National Salvation Front, lawyer Ridha Belhaj, and activist Chaima Issa, each receiving 18 years in prison. Activist Khayam Turki received a 48-year sentence, while businessman Kamel Eltaief was handed the most severe punishment: 66 years behind bars.

Speaking to AFP, Turki’s cousin, Hayder Turki, expressed his dismay, saying, “He doesn’t deserve this—he’s a great man. His only crime was being involved in politics.”

The list of convicted individuals also includes international figures. French intellectual Bernard Henri-Levy was sentenced to 33 years in absentia, along with feminist activist Bochra Belhaj Hmida and former presidential office chief Nadia Akacha. Two former leaders of the Islamist Ennahdha party, Abdelhamid Jelassi and Noureddine Bhiri, were sentenced to 13 and 43 years respectively.

“Judicial assassination,” critics say

Kamel Jendoubi, a rights advocate and former minister also sentenced in absentia, called the verdicts a “judicial assassination.” In a statement, Jendoubi accused the Tunisian justice system of being hijacked by political orders.

“This is not a judiciary ruling, but a political decree executed by judges under orders, by complicit prosecutors and by a justice minister serving a paranoid autocrat,” Jendoubi said.

Since President Kais Saied’s power grab in July 2021—when he suspended parliament, dismissed the prime minister, and assumed executive authority—he has ruled largely by decree. His actions, initially welcomed by some Tunisians frustrated with a stagnating political system, have since raised alarm both domestically and internationally. The president has continued to erode democratic institutions, including the judiciary, which critics say he has used as a tool against dissent.

Rights groups condemn Tunisia mass trial

Human Rights Watch and other watchdog organizations have criticized the entire trial process. Bassam Khawaja, a representative from HRW, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “The court did not give even a semblance of a fair trial.” He added that the charges appeared “unfounded and based on no credible evidence.”

The trial began on March 4, 2025, and has been marred by procedural irregularities. Defense attorneys repeatedly raised concerns about due process, including the court’s refusal to allow the prosecution and defense to speak during the final hearing. Lawyer Samia Abbou described “flagrant violations of judicial procedure,” stating that defendants were “not heard” before the judge began deliberations.

The final hearing on Friday lasted much of the day and was held under tight security. Media and foreign diplomats were barred from attending, further fueling concerns about the lack of transparency. At least six defendants went on hunger strikes to protest the court's refusal to allow in-person appearances.

Political context of the mass trial

President Saied’s critics say the trial is just the latest step in a broader campaign to silence opposition voices. Since the 2021 power consolidation, dozens of politicians, journalists, and civil society figures have been detained or investigated. The government has increasingly targeted perceived enemies under the guise of national security, blurring the line between counterterrorism efforts and political repression.

In recent months, opposition parties and civil society groups have warned of an authoritarian drift, comparing the current climate to the pre-2011 dictatorship of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. In response, Saied’s supporters argue that the president is combating corruption and restoring order to a chaotic post-revolution system.

Nevertheless, legal experts argue that the mass trial sets a dangerous precedent. Tunisian analyst Hatem Nafti commented on X, “Any acquittal in this mass trial would have negated the conspiratorial narrative that the regime has relied on since 2021 and that a large part of the population has accepted due to restricted media coverage.”

Appeals planned amid international scrutiny

Defense lawyers have already announced plans to appeal the verdicts. However, with the judiciary seen as increasingly compromised, it is unclear whether the appeals will lead to reduced sentences or retrials. Lawyers representing several defendants are also exploring options to bring the case before international human rights bodies.

The mass trial and subsequent verdicts have drawn international concern, especially among Tunisia’s allies in Europe and the United States, who have provided funding and support for the country’s democratic transition since 2011. In private, diplomats have expressed growing unease over Saied’s use of the legal system to eliminate political rivals and consolidate power.

The ruling is expected to deepen Tunisia’s political crisis, already marked by economic instability, rising inflation, and growing disillusionment among the population. With dozens of opposition figures now facing decades in prison, the country’s democratic future hangs in the balance.

As Tunisia jails opposition leaders in what rights groups call an unjust and politically charged trial, questions continue to mount over the fate of democracy in a country once hailed as a beacon of the Arab Spring.