Tunisian court imprisons head of opposition for "belonging to terrorist group”

(MENAFN) A Tunisian criminal court has sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, head of the opposition Ennahdha Party, to 14 years in prison on charges of "conspiracy against state security" and "belonging to a terrorist group," according to reports from state media. The ruling was issued by the terrorism-related cases chamber at the Tunis First Instance Court.

Along with Ghannouchi, several former officials and political figures received prison terms of 12 years. Among those convicted are former intelligence chief Mahrez Zouari, former head of airport security at Tunis-Carthage International Airport Abdelkarim Abidi, senior Ennahdha member Habib Ellouze, and Rayan Hamzaoui, mayor of Ezzahra in Ben Arous province.

The court also sentenced a number of individuals who remain at large to 35 years in prison. This group includes former presidential chief of staff Nadia Akacha, Ghannouchi’s son Moaz Ghannouchi, and Ennahdha officials Adel Daadaa and Rafik Abdessalem.

The case was referred to trial by the indictment chamber on May 15, 2024. Hearings commenced on May 2, 2025, experiencing multiple delays before the court set July 8 as the day for delivering its verdicts.

In total, about 20 Tunisians face charges that cover forming a terrorist group, conspiracy against internal state security, terrorism financing, money laundering, attempts to overthrow the government, and inciting violence through social media.

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