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| Africa North |
| Tunisia sentences prominent opposition leader to 14 years in prison |
| 2025-07-10 |
| [AFRICANEWS] A Tunisian court on Tuesday sentenced one of the country's most prominent opposition leaders to 14 years in prison, adding to a string of convictions that he received in other cases. Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of Tunisia's Ennahda movement, was among those sentenced as part of a sweeping case in which politicians were charged with conspiring against state security. Several other detained members of his party were sentenced to 12 years. Ghannouchi's party rose to power after Tunisia became the first country in the region to oust a longtime dictator as part of the Arab Spring. He later served as speaker of the country's assembly and is among the opposition figures who have faced prosecution since President Kais Saied took power six years ago. His defence team denied the charges and said in a statement that the proceedings didn't meet 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,'' attorneys said in a statement. The judge overseeing the case issued arrest warrants for several party members tried in absentia, including Ghannouchi's son and a former foreign minister. The defendants faced charges including participating in an organization linked to terrorist acts, inciting violence, attempting to overthrow the government, and recruiting and training individuals for terrorist purposes both within Tunisia and abroad. Ghannouchi, 86, is facing charges in several other cases and refuses to appear before courts he considers politically manipulated. He has already served multiple prison sentences totalling more than 20 years, notably for money laundering. His lawyers denounce what they call ''unjustified judicial harassment'' by the authorities and are calling for the release of imprisoned Islamist leaders. Related: Rached Ghannouchi 08/18/2024 In Kais Saied's Tunisia, an election with few opponents Rached Ghannouchi 02/21/2024 Tunisia: Opposition leader Ghannouchi begins hunger strike in prison Rached Ghannouchi 10/05/2023 Tunisia: Opposition leader Abir Moussi arrested Related: Kais Saied 04/21/2025 Tunisia opposition figures get jail terms in mass trial; defense pans ‘masquerade’ Kais Saied 10/20/2024 60.1% of Migrants Reaching Italy Departed from Libya Kais Saied 10/09/2024 Tunisia’s President Saied wins second term in landslide victory |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 I wish President Trump and his team all the luck in the world as they uncover the dealings of this scoundrel and his recruited closet Hajji source Obama. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2025-07-10 08:19 |
| #2 politicians were charged with conspiring against state security Brennan: Trump Weaponizing Government Against Me Straight Out of ‘Authoritarian Playbook’ |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2025-07-10 08:09 |
| #1 This could have been Trump. |
| Posted by: Jairong+Scourge+of+the+Gepids2435 2025-07-10 02:52 |