Latest news with #RachedGhannouchi
DW
5 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Tunisia president's far-reaching clampdown targets opponents – DW – 07/11/2025
Tunisian President Kais Saied enters his fifth year of authoritarian rule by sentencing politicians to lengthy jail terms. Is he taking aim at corruption? Or eliminating the opposition for good? The latest mass trial in Tunis' primary court has ensured that President Kais Saied won't have to worry about dissent from 21 of his fiercest political opponents for many years to come. On Tuesday, politicians and officials, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, were variously sentenced to 12 to 35 years in prison. Ghannouchi, the 86-year-old leader of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party and former speaker of the parliament, refused to appear in court, where he was given a 14-year sentence for forming a "secret security apparatus." By staying in his cell, where he has been since April 2023, he upheld his boycott of Tunisia's judiciary, which he deems politically manipulated. Together with the latest verdict, his prison time now adds up to 27 of those convicted for charges of terrorism, violence, or attempts to overthrow the government are already in jail. The other 11 convicted politicians have already left the country. Among them are Tunisia's former Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem, Nadia Akacha, Saied's former chief of staff, and Tasnim and Mouadh Ghannouchi, the children of Rached Ghannouchi. However, as they would be arrested upon return, the verdicts essentially bar them from entering the country or becoming politically active in Tunisia for decades. "The verdicts issued in the latest 'Conspiring Case 2' are a new wave of persecution of the opposition and an attempt to isolate and marginalize it," Riad Chaibi, a Tunisian politician and advisor of Rached Ghannouchi, told DW. "The judiciary's subservience to political directives means that these verdicts do not reflect the supremacy of the law, nor do they reflect justice and the conditions of a fair trial," he said. In his view, the verdicts issued in this and other cases have a purely political background. Also Bassam Khawaja, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch regards the latest verdicts as part of a broader pattern in which the Tunisian authorities target the political opposition. "We haven't seen all of the evidence in these cases, but the authorities are frequently using corruption or financial crimes' accusations to go after political opponents, activists, journalists, human rights defenders in a way that's very clearly abusive," Khawaja told DW. "At this point it is very obvious that these trials are not fair," he said, adding that "essentially they are clearing the field to ensure that there is no political opposition within Tunisia." Saied's increasing crackdown on Tunisia's opposition stands in stark contrast with his views when he became president in 2019. At the time, the politically independent former law professor garnered a majority of 72% and broad public support for his vows to tackle corruption, and to modernize the state while upholding Tunisia's democracy. However, after two unremarkable years, Saied developed a taste forpower consolidation . Since then, the now 67-year-old has dismantled most democratic bodies, including the country's judiciary. In late 2024, Saied secured a second term in a vote that observers deemed neither free nor democratic. Tunisia's rights situation has also taken a turn for the worse. Most candidates were either not admitted or imprisoned. Scores of journalists and activists were jailed. In Saied's view, however, all of these steps are justified to shore up the country's "war of national liberation" and to end corruption. For Riccardo Fabiani, director of the North Africa Project at the conflict-prevention NGO International Crisis Group, points out that Tunisia's "structural corruption problem" has deep roots. "Undoubtedly there are a lot of politicians and entrepreneurs in Tunisia that have broken rules and bribed whoever they needed to bribe to achieve their goals, whether these were political or business goals," he said, adding that the current clampdown was not motivated by an honest urge to uproot corruption. "By using the accusation of corruption, the president is trying to stifle the opposition," Fabiani said, describing corruption as "a pretext." Meanwhile, Saied is under no pressure to alter his increasingly undemocratic course. "There is not strong enough internal mobilization against him and his increasingly authoritarian rule," said Fabiani. "There is no external pressure whatsoever, particularly from Europe, given that the European Union and European governments are benefiting from Tunisia's role controlling migration." Despite this, Ghannouchi's advisor and oppositional politician Riad Chaibi stresses that he is not going to give up. "We will continue the struggle to restore the democratic process and release all political prisoners," he told DW. "There are many voices in this country... We believe that our path will ultimately triumph."
DW
5 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Tunisian President's crackdown swipes out at opposition – DW – 07/11/2025
Tunisian President Kais Saied enters his fifth year of authoritarian rule by sentencing politicians to lengthy jail terms. Is he taking aim at corruption — or eliminating the opposition for good? For Tunisian President Kais Saied, the latest mass trial in Tunis' primary court has made sure that he won't have to worry about dissent from 21 of his fiercest political opponents for many years to come. On Tuesday, politicians and officials, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, were sentenced to between 12 to 35 years in prison. Ghannouchi, the 86-year-old leader of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party and former speaker of the parliament, refused to appear in court, where he was given a 14-year sentence for forming a "secret security apparatus." By staying in his cell, where he has been since April 2023, he upheld his boycott of Tunisia's judiciary, which he deems politically manipulated. Together with the latest verdict, his prison time now adds up to 27 of those convicted for charges of terrorism, violence, or attempts to overthrow the government are already in jail. The other 11 convicted politicians have already left the country. Among them are Tunisia's former Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem, Nadia Akacha, Saied's former chief of staff, and Tasnim and Mouadh Ghannouchi, the children of Rached Ghannouchi. However, as they would be arrested upon return, the verdicts essentially bar them from entering the country or becoming politically active in Tunisia for decades. "The verdicts issued in the latest 'Conspiring Case 2' are a new wave of persecution of the opposition and an attempt to isolate and marginalize it," Riad Chaibi, a Tunisian politician and advisor of Rached Ghannouchi, told DW. "The judiciary's subservience to political directives means that these verdicts do not reflect the supremacy of the law, nor do they reflect justice and the conditions of a fair trial," he said. In his view, the verdicts issued in this and other cases have a purely political background. Also Bassam Khawaja, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch regards the latest verdicts as part of a broader pattern in which the Tunisian authorities target the political opposition. "We haven't seen all of the evidence in these cases, but the authorities are frequently using corruption or financial crimes' accusations to go after political opponents, activists, journalists, human rights defenders in a way that's very clearly abusive," Khawaja told DW. "At this point it is very obvious that these trials are not fair," he said, adding that "essentially they are clearing the field to ensure that there is no political opposition within Tunisia." Saied's increasing crackdown on Tunisia's opposition stands in stark contrast with his views when he became president in 2019. At the time, the politically independent former law professor garnered a majority of 72% and broad public support for his vows to tackle corruption, and to modernize the state while upholding Tunisia's democracy. However, after two unremarkable years, Saied developed a taste forpower consolidation . Since then, the now 67-year-old has dismantled most democratic bodies, including the country's judiciary. In late 2024, Saied secured a second term in a vote that observers deemed neither free nor democratic. Tunisia's rights situation has also taken a turn for the worse. Most candidates were either not admitted or imprisoned. Scores of journalists and activists were jailed. In Saied's view, however, all of these steps are justified to shore up the country's "war of national liberation" and to end corruption. For Riccardo Fabiani, director of the North Africa Project at the conflict-prevention NGO International Crisis Group, points out that Tunisia's "structural corruption problem" has deep roots. "Undoubtedly there are a lot of politicians and entrepreneurs in Tunisia that have broken rules and bribed whoever they needed to bribe to achieve their goals, whether these were political or business goals," he said, adding that the current clampdown was not motivated by an honest urge to uproot corruption. "By using the accusation of corruption, the president is trying to stifle the opposition," Fabiani said, describing corruption as "a pretext." Meanwhile, Saied is under no pressure to alter his increasingly undemocratic course. "There is not strong enough internal mobilization against him and his increasingly authoritarian rule," said Fabiani. "There is no external pressure whatsoever, particularly from Europe, given that the European Union and European governments are benefiting from Tunisia's role controlling migration." Despite this, Ghannouchi's advisor and oppositional politician Riad Chaibi stresses that he is not going to give up. "We will continue the struggle to restore the democratic process and release all political prisoners," he told DW. "There are many voices in this country... We believe that our path will ultimately triumph."
Roya News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi sentenced to 14 years in prison
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Tuesday. Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old head of the Ennahda party and a prominent figure in Tunisian politics for decades, was convicted along with 17 other political figures on charges of 'conspiring against state security.' The court ruling adds to an already lengthy list of convictions for Ghannouchi, who has been behind bars since 2023. In recent months, he has received multiple sentences totaling more than 20 years, including convictions related to alleged money laundering. His defense team has rejected the latest charges, insisting the trial was politically motivated and failed to meet fair trial standards. Ghannouchi himself refused to attend the sentencing remotely, continuing to challenge the legitimacy of the proceedings. Founded by Ghannouchi in the 1980s, the moderate Islamist Ennahda party has been a central player in post-revolution Tunisian politics. Ghannouchi served as speaker of parliament until 2021, when President Kais Saied suspended the legislature and began ruling by decree, an act widely viewed as a turning point for the country's democratic experiment. Tuesday's ruling also extended to Ghannouchi's children, Mouadh and Tasnim, who were sentenced in absentia to 35 years each. Both had previously left the country. Other high-profile figures sentenced in absentia include former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem Bouchlaka and former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani. Rights groups have repeatedly condemned Tunisia's increasing crackdown on dissent. Since President Saied's power grab in 2021, dozens of opposition leaders, lawyers, journalists, and activists have been imprisoned or investigated, with critics accusing the president of dismantling the democratic gains of the 2011 revolution.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tunisian opposition leader jailed for 14 years
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, adding to a string of other jail terms he has received in seperate cases. Ghannouchi, who heads the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, was among 18 politicians and officials sentenced on Tuesday for "conspiring against state security". Ghannouchi's defence team denied the charges brought against the 84-year-old, saying the proceedings did not meet the standards of a fair trial. Over the past few years, rights groups have repeatedly denounced the jailing of opposition figures in Tunisia, saying the sentences highlight an aggressive crackdown against critics of President Kais Saied. Ghannouchi has been in jail since 2023 and refused to attend Tuesday's sentencing remotely. In recent months, he has received three sentences totalling more than 20 years, for charges such as money laundering. According to news agency Tunis Afrique Presse, Ghannouchi's children, Mouadh and Tasnim, were also sentenced on Tuesday, although they had already fled the country. Both received 35-year sentences in absentia. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rafik Abdessalem Bouchlaka and ex-intelligence chief Kamel Guizani were also sentenced in absentia. President Saied suspended the Tunisian parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. Since then, Tunisian and foreign rights groups have reported growing political repression in the country that sparked the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. Most opposition leaders have been jailed since 2021, along with some journalists, lawyers, activists and social media users. Saied has rejected accusations of repression, saying his actions are aimed at bringing an end to the chaos and corruption under previous governments. Is democracy in Tunisia being destroyed? Pink flamingos 'seized from smugglers' in Tunisia Tunisia lawyer arrested during live news broadcast Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Rached Ghannouchi: Tunisian opposition leader jailed for 14 years
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, adding to a string of other jail terms he has received in seperate who heads the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, was among 18 politicians and officials sentenced on Tuesday for "conspiring against state security". Ghannouchi's defence team denied the charges brought against the 84-year-old, saying the proceedings did not meet the standards of a fair the past few years, rights groups have repeatedly denounced the jailing of opposition figures in Tunisia, saying the sentences highlight an aggressive crackdown against critics of President Kais Saied. Ghannouchi has been in jail since 2023 and refused to attend Tuesday's sentencing recent months, he has received three sentences totalling more than 20 years, for charges such as money to news agency Tunis Afrique Presse, Ghannouchi's children, Mouadh and Tasnim, were also sentenced on Tuesday, although they had already fled the country. Both received 35-year sentences in Foreign Affairs Minister Rafik Abdessalem Bouchlaka and ex-intelligence chief Kamel Guizani were also sentenced in Saied suspended the Tunisian parliament in 2021 and began ruling by then, Tunisian and foreign rights groups have reported growing political repression in the country that sparked the 2011 Arab Spring opposition leaders have been jailed since 2021, along with some journalists, lawyers, activists and social media has rejected accusations of repression, saying his actions are aimed at bringing an end to the chaos and corruption under previous governments. More stories from Tunisia: Is democracy in Tunisia being destroyed?Pink flamingos 'seized from smugglers' in TunisiaTunisia lawyer arrested during live news broadcast Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
