Tunisia’s top court upholds conviction of opposition figures, activists

Critics claim Tunisia’s judiciary acts under political pressure, as opposition leaders face lengthy prison terms.

epa13181359 Tunisians hold the photo of Tunisian President Kais Saied and shout slogans during a demonstration against Saied and deteriorating living conditions, under the slogan, 'Enough of the absurdity, enough of the failure, enough of the injustice,' in Tunis, Tunisia, 20 August 2026. The demonstration, organized by the National Salvation Front and the Nafas movement, bought together opposition members and citizens denouncing the country's political, economic and social situation. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA — Tunisian protesters in the capital hold a photo of President Kais Saied during a demonstration against his rule and worsening living conditions, under the banner "Enough of the absurdity, enough of the failure, enough of the injustice", 20 August 2026 [Mohamed Messara/EPA]

Tunisia’s Court of Cassation has rejected the final appeals of dozens of opposition figures, upholding prison sentences of up to 45 years for those accused of conspiring to overthrow President Kais Saied.

The ruling on Thursday closes three years of legal proceedings against 40 people, including opposition party leaders, lawyers, businessmen and human rights defenders. Half of them were sentenced in absentia after fleeing the country.

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Among those sentenced in the mass trial was Said Ferjani, a senior official and former MP from the opposition party Ennahda, which led the first Tunisian government after the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s regime during the Arab Spring. Ferjani was initially sentenced to 13 years, which was reduced to 10 years on appeal.

Ennahda’s founder and leader Rached Ghannouchi was jailed in 2025 and sentenced to a 14-year prison term in June this year — a punishment that rights groups and opposition activists have termed politically motivated and part of President Kais Saied’s crackdown on the opposition.

Others sentenced on Thursday include Najib Chebbi, the leader of the National Salvation Front opposition coalition, who was given 12 years. Fellow opposition figures Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawhar Ben Mbarek and Ridha Belhaj were each sentenced to 20 years. Politician Noureddine Bhiri was sentenced to 10 years.

“The ruling confirms that the judiciary is not independent,” said Haifa Chebbi, a lawyer and Najib Chebbi’s daughter, who said her father and other defendants were “silenced” by a case designed to imprison opposition figures. “Opponents entered prison by political decision and will leave when Saied falls.”

Lawyers said they were notified of Thursday’s hearing on Monday, leaving too little time to prepare a defence.

Dalila Msaddek, whose brother Jawhar Ben Mbarek was among those convicted, wrote on Facebook that, “the legal battle is now over … what begins is a purely political battle”.

The case is widely seen as emblematic of Tunisia’s democratic backsliding since the election of Saied in 2019. He has ruled largely by decree, dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed dozens of judges.

Saied’s government has rejected accusations of political persecution.

Tunisia’s justice minister has said that the defendants sought to destabilise the country. Saied described the accused as “traitors and terrorists” following their arrests in 2023, warning that judges who acquitted them would be treated as accomplices.