Tunisia opposition leader bags one year jail term
Written by Tunde Adeyemi on May 16, 2023
A Tunisian court has sentenced opposition leader, Rached Ghannouchi to a year in prison in absentia.
The Ennahda party leader, who is a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, had been detained since last month after being arrested for allegedly plotting against state security and incitement.
Ghannouchi rejected the allegations as politically motivated, refusing to appear before the judges.
His detention last month alongside other sparked international condemnation, including by the US, the European Union and rights groups.
There has been a wave of arrests this year of leading figures opposed to President Saied, who assumed full executive powers almost two years ago.
20 of Saied’s political opponents and personalities have been arrested, including former ministers and business figures since February.
