Tunisian court sentences Ennahda Leader Rached Ghannouchi to Life in prison

A Tunisian court on Tuesday handed down its verdicts in the case known in the media as the Ennahda Movement’s “secret apparatus” case, involving 35 defendants.

The Criminal Chamber specialising in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance issued sentences ranging from 10 years in prison to life imprisonment, as well as cumulative prison terms amounting to several decades.

The court sentenced Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi to life imprisonment in addition to 30 years in prison. His deputy, Ali Laarayedh, was sentenced to 42 years in prison, while Mustapha Khedher received a 96-year sentence.

The court also sentenced Ridha Barouni, al Tahar Boubehri, Kamal Aifi, and seven other defendants to life imprisonment in addition to 76 years in prison.

A source told Arabi21 that the total sentences handed down against Ghannouchi amounted to 106 years in prison, in addition to a life sentence.

According to a judicial source quoted by Tunisia’s state news agency (TAP), the court found the defendants guilty of “forming a terrorist organisation, deliberately joining a terrorist organisation operating within the territory of the republic, providing skills and expertise to a terrorist organisation and to individuals linked to terrorist crimes, as well as other terrorism-related offences stipulated under the counter-terrorism law.”

READ: Tunisia court sentences former Ennahda leader’s office director to 14 years in prison