The opposition Ennahdha party has fiercely condemned on February 6 the Tunisian court’s decision to extend the prison sentence of its leader, Rached Ghannouchi, by 22 years, labelling the trial as a politically motivated act.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party described the proceedings as a blatant attack on judicial independence, citing numerous violations throughout the trial process. Ennahdha claims the case against Ghannouchi is nothing more than a political trial, pointing out that it mirrors the oppressive practices of Tunisia’s pre-2011 Government, which the revolution sought to dismantle.
Ghannouchi, arrested in April 2023 and already serving time for charges of incitement, was recently handed an additional three-year sentence over accusations that his party received foreign funding, alongside a heavy fine. The latest ruling, which includes charges of plotting against state security, has intensified tensions between the opposition and President Kais Saied’s government. Ghannouchi’s adviser, Ahmed Gaaloul, accused the regime of using these trials as a tool for political propaganda, particularly in light of Tunisia’s deepening economic crisis, which Saied’s government is struggling to address.
The Ennahdha party has vowed to continue challenging these convictions, with plans to take the case to international courts. Several other prominent party members have also been sentenced, including former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and Ghannouchi’s family members. Human rights organisations have condemned these sentences, describing them as politically motivated moves to stifle opposition voices and undermine Tunisia’s fragile democracy. As the country navigates its political and economic challenges, critics fear the government’s actions signal a troubling return to authoritarianism.