Tunisia in emergency: Process against 40 conspirators threatens to death!

Tunisia in emergency: Process against 40 conspirators threatens to death!

Tunis, Tunesien - In Tunisia there is a massive process against more than 40 people who are accused in a far -reaching "conspiracy case". The accused, including prominent opposition politicians, diplomats and media personalities, must defend themselves against allegations that affect the cooperation with "foreign powers" to undermine the government of President Kais Saied. The process, which was originally planned on March 4, has been postponed several times, most recently on April 18, 2025. The accused see the allegations as politically motivated and as part of a repressive strategy that has been tightened since Saied's takeover on July 25, 2021 in order to suppress any opposition. According to Al Jazera threaten the accused severe punishment, including the death penalty that has no longer been carried out in Tunisia since 1991, however, is still legally permissible.

The charges that affect these people are subject to the attempt to change the “nature of the state” according to Article 72 of the Tunisian Criminal Code. The most prominent people accused include Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Khayam Turki, Issam Chebbi, Ghazi Chaouachi, Ridha Belhaj and Abdelhamid Jelassi, who have to expect life -long prison terms or the death penalty. Her case is part of a broader repressive policy that is directed against dissident and critics of the government.

repressive measures against dissidents

The Tunisian government uses arbitrary arrests as one of the main average of its repressive strategy. This was documented in a current report by Human Rights Watch , which describes over 20 cases of arbitrary arrests of political activists and journalists. Well-known personalities such as Abir Moussi and Rached al-Ghannouchi are among the detained. These arrests are often accused of “changing the form of government”, which can result in the death penalty in Tunisia.

President Kais Saied has strengthened control over the state institutions and favors a policy that describes critics as "traitor" or "terrorists". The number of political detainees is estimated at over 50 who are in prison because of their statements or political activities. Human Rights Watch describes the current repression as the most massive since the 2011 revolution and asks the international community to put pressure on Tunisia to improve the human rights situation.

The death penalty and its application

The death penalty remains rooted in Tunisia, despite its factual suspension for more than three decades. Although judge continues to express convictions on death penalties, nobody has been executed since 1991. The Tunisian constitution of 2014 allows legal executions, while Tunisia also supports international efforts to achieve a global moratorium to the death penalty. In 2022, for example, 16 people were sentenced to death for their participation in an ISIL attack. Critics like President Saied still stick to the death penalty and have publicly affirmed this.

The latest law decrees from Saied to combat "false information" further exacerbate repression and provide considerable prison terms for supposed violations. This increased state control and the disregard of fundamental human rights are a serious threat to civil society and independence of the judiciary in Tunisia. The international partners of Tunisia, including the European Union, are increasingly being asked to stand up for compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms.