Tunisia's appeals court sentences opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi to 20 years, raising his total sentence to 50 years, in a politically charged case.

A Tunisian appeals court has increased the prison sentence of opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi to 20 years, raising his total cumulative sentence to 50 years, in a case tied to alleged state conspiracy charges. The ruling, part of a broader crackdown since President Kais Saied dissolved parliament in 2021, also sentenced several former officials, including Saied’s former chief of staff, to up to 35 years in absentia. The court upheld convictions of 21 individuals, with 10 in custody and 11 having fled. Ghannouchi and other defendants deny the charges, calling the trial politically motivated. Critics say the verdicts reflect ongoing efforts to suppress dissent and undermine democratic institutions, while the government maintains the actions are lawful and necessary to ensure stability.