Tunisian Opposition Leaders Slammed with Harsh Sentences Amid Political Crackdown

A Tunisian court sentenced opposition leaders and others to lengthy jail terms, seen as a sign of President Kais Saied's descent into authoritarianism. Rights groups criticize the trials as political suppression. Detainees include prominent politicians and activists, reflecting deepening political unrest in Tunisia amid allegations of fabricating charges.

A Tunisian appeals court sentenced opposition leaders and other individuals to lengthy jail terms, sparking concerns over President Kais Saied's increasingly authoritarian tactics, according to a court document. Critics describe this as one of Tunisia's largest political crackdowns, accusing Saied of targeting political opponents to strengthen his rule.

Rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, condemn the verdicts as part of a broader crackdown on dissent following Saied's 2021 power grab. Mokthar Jmai, lawyer for the defendants, called the legal proceedings a 'judicial farce,' alleging intent to silence and eliminate political adversaries.

Authorities allege that the defendants, among them former officials and intelligence Chief Kamel Guizani, plotted to destabilize Tunisia. Prominent opposition figures received sentences ranging from five to 45 years, with several sentenced in absentia. Saied's critics continue to decry these actions as a political purge, urging unity among opposition groups against this democratic regression.

(With inputs from agencies.)