Tunisian Court Hands Down Severe Sentences to Ghannouchi, Mechichi, and Others
Harsh prison terms spark accusations of political repression and judicial bias.
Watan-A Tunisian court issued severe prison sentences on Wednesday against several politicians in a case related to “Instalingo,” a company specializing in publishing media content online. The charges include conspiracy against state security and money laundering.
According to the defense team, the rulings include a 22-year prison sentence for Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda Movement, who has been in prison since April 2023. His sons, Moaz Ghannouchi (25 years) and Soumaya Ghannouchi (35 years), as well as his son-in-law, former Foreign Minister Rafik Bouchlaka (34 years), were also sentenced.
All of these individuals are currently outside the country.
The verdicts were issued following court sessions that extended late into the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
The harshest sentence was handed to Instalingo’s founder, Salem Al-Khihili (54 years), who is subject to an international arrest warrant. Additionally, former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, who is also outside Tunisia, was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
The judiciary has been investigating around 40 individuals in the “Instalingo” case since 2022.
Other sentences include 13 and 15 years in prison for two security officials, as well as prison terms ranging from 5 to 27 years for two journalists and two bloggers.
These are initial verdicts, and the defense team has the right to appeal before the Court of Appeals.
Ennahda Condemns the Rulings
In response, Tunisia’s Ennahda Movement condemned the prison sentences against its leader Rached Ghannouchi and several politicians, journalists, and bloggers, describing them as “harsh and unjust.”
Ennahda stated that “this is a politically motivated trial aimed at revenge, violating basic rights, freedoms, and the fundamental principles of the rule of law.”
The party further claimed that the rulings represent a blatant attack on judicial independence and neutrality, exposing clear politicization of the legal process.
Additionally, Ennahda warned that these sentences “completely contradict the country’s urgent need for dialogue and national unity to face serious challenges.”
Meanwhile, Tunisian President Kais Saied continues to emphasize the independence of the judiciary in his public statements.
