Ghannouchi says he is innocent and rejects appeals against prison sentences

Former Tunisian parliament speaker and leader of the Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, has refused to appeal prison sentences issued against him because he is convinced of his innocence, his defence team said. 

The movement also condemned new prison sentences handed down to several of its leaders on conspiracy-related charges in what is known as the Baja case.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the defence team commented on the life sentence imposed on Ghannouchi for allegedly attempting to replace the country’s governing institutions.

The lawyers said Ghannouchi “never presented himself, either publicly or secretly, as an alternative to any ruling authority”, adding that there was no evidence in the case file to support the accusation.

READ: Tunisian court sentences Ennahda Leader Rached Ghannouchi to Life in prison

They also said the alleged events took place in 2013, after Tunisia had already held constituent elections and elected a president, government and constituent assembly, meaning there was no institutional vacuum in the country at the time.

Regarding accusations that Ghannouchi formed a terrorist organisation, the defence team said the charge had been brought against many political opponents and that neither the complainant nor the court had provided evidence showing any material or intentional act by Ghannouchi that would support the allegation.

On charges that Ghannouchi had access to military secrets, the lawyers said no documents had been seized in this or any other case proving that he had obtained or shared any national defence secrets.

They added that a military court had previously dropped the case on jurisdictional grounds, arguing that this undermined the charge both procedurally and substantively.

READ: Former Tunisian justice minister sentenced to 20 years in prison