Over twenty Tunisian politicians, former officials and journalists have been sentenced to severe prison sentences in a new sham mass trial in Tunisia.
The case involves allegations of conspiracy against state security and terrorism-related activities in Tunisia. Defendants include prominent opposition politicians, former officials and journalists, including Rached Ghannouchi, former Speaker of Parliament, Youssef Chahed, former PM, Rayan Hamzaoui, former mayor, Rafik Abdessalem, former foreign minister, Nadia Akacha, former chief of staff of President Saied, among others. The sentences issued were 14 years for Ghannouchi, who refused to attend the trial in protest as the lack of judicial independence and fair trial guarantees, 12 years for all those who were tried in detention and were required to participate remotely, like other trials of a political nature in recent months, and 35 years for all those who were abroad.
This case shares many of the same characteristics of the Conspiracy 1 case, such as the lack of fair trial guarantees, including limitations on defense lawyers’ rights and the reliance on anonymous testimony, and the judiciary’s increasing subordination to executive power.
Numerous procedural violations undermined the trial, notably the extended pretrial detention and the denial of defendants’ right to appear in person. This contravenes the fundamental right to be present at one’s own trial, which is essential for effective participation in the defence, including the ability to communicate with legal counsel during proceedings. By barring the defendants from attending without compelling public order or national security justifications, the decision further compromises the integrity of the judicial process.
International Jurists Union | Public Declaration
