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Tunisia’s top court upholds convictions of opposition figures
Tunisia’s Court of Cassation has rejected the final appeals in a mass trial involving approximately 40 individuals, including opposition leaders, lawyers, businessmen, and human rights defenders. The ruling upholds prison sentences for those accused of conspiring to overthrow President Kais Saied, with some sentences reaching up to 45 years.
Among the convicted are National Salvation Front leader Najib Chebbi, who received 12 years, and several others, including Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawhar Ben Mbarek, and Ridha Belhaj, who were each sentenced to 20 years. Politician Noureddine Bhiri received a 10-year sentence.
Defense lawyers and family members have criticized the proceedings, alleging that the judiciary lacks independence and that the hearing was scheduled with insufficient notice, leaving little time for defense preparation. The case is viewed by critics as a sign of democratic backsliding in Tunisia since Saied assumed power. The Tunisian government has denied all accusations of political persecution, maintaining that the defendants sought to destabilize the state.
Entities
Coordination of Families of Political Prisoners · Court of Cassation · Court of Cassation of Tunis · Kais Saied · Najib Chebbi · National Coordination for the Release of Political Prisoners · National Salvation Front · Tunisia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 9 SOURCES] Defense lawyers claimed they were only notified of the hearing on Monday for a Thursday proceeding, leaving insufficient time for preparation. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Court of Cassation rejected the final appeals in a mass trial involving dozens of opposition figures and activists. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The ruling concludes three years of legal proceedings involving approximately 40 individuals. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Tunisian government has rejected allegations that the legal proceedings constitute political persecution. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] National Salvation Front leader Najib Chebbi was sentenced to 12 years in prison. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The ruling upholds prison sentences for the defendants, with the maximum sentence reaching 45 years. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The defendants were accused of conspiring to overthrow President Kais Saied. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Opposition figures Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawhar Ben Mbarek, and Ridha Belhaj were each sentenced to 20 years. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · +4 more