Ennahda rejects ‘political trials’ after appeal court increases Ghannouchi sentence to 20 years

Tunisia’s Ennahda movement has denounced the “unjust trials with a blatant political dimension”, insisting on the innocence of its leader Rached Ghannouchi and other defendants following tougher prison sentences issued on appeal.

Late on Monday, Tunisia’s Court of Appeal handed down sentences ranging from three to 35 years in the second phase of the so-called conspiracy against state security case, according to the Tunisian News Agency, citing a judicial source.

The court increased Ghannouchi’s sentence from 14 to 20 years in prison. It also sentenced, in absentia, Ghannouchi’s son Muadh and his son-in-law, former foreign minister Rafik Abdessalem, alongside other Ennahda leaders and Nadia Akacha, a former adviser to President Kais Saied, to 35 years each. Additional prison terms were issued against former security officials.

The charges reportedly include “forming an organisation and group related to terrorist crimes and inciting, by any means, the murder of a person”, as well as “attempting to prepare for the purpose of changing the form of the state”, with preparatory acts allegedly involving Tunisian territory and that of a foreign state.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, Ennahda said the verdicts had once again “crossed all boundaries”, accusing the authorities of disregarding fair trial standards and ignoring defence arguments.

The movement claimed the proceedings — from investigation referrals through to the issuance of verdicts — were marked by judicial manipulation and a failure to secure even minimum safeguards for defendants’ rights and guarantees of integrity and justice.

READ: Tunisia appeals court raises prison sentence of Ennahda leader Ghannouchi to 20 years