Tunisia: Police surround home of National Salvation Front leader

The Tunisian opposition group, National Salvation Front, said on Tuesday evening that police were surrounding the home of the party’s senior leader, Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, likely preparing to arrest him after he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Earlier on Tuesday, police arrested prominent lawyer and opposition figure Ayachi Hammami. His arrest was part of a wider operation targeting those wanted in a case of plotting against state security, following rulings by the Court of Appeal.

Hammami was sentenced to three years in prison. His arrest came just days after opposition activist Shaimaa Issa was detained during a protest march last Saturday, enforcing a 20-year prison sentence against her.

Veteran politician Ahmed Nejib Chebbi is also facing arrest to serve his sentence.

The Court of Appeal upheld most of the sentences issued against dozens of politicians, businesspeople, and activists detained in February 2023, with some sentences reaching up to 45 years in prison.

In a video message before his arrest, Ayachi Hammami said he was accused of belonging to a terrorist organisation. He described the sentence as a political decision issued by President Kais Saied and his government.

READ: Tunisian court jails nine Ennahda leaders on state security charges