Khaberni - The Primary Court in Tunisia issued a preliminary ruling on Friday, sentencing the head of the "Ennahda" movement, Rashid Al-Ghannouchi, to two years in prison "on the grounds of donating the value of an international award" he received in 2016 for the benefit of the Red Crescent in his country.
This came according to a statement from Al-Ghannouchi’s defense team, while no comment has been issued from the prosecution or the court until 12:00 (GMT).
The defense team stated that the court issued a preliminary ruling that can be appealed, imprisoning Al-Ghannouchi for two years, following his donation of the value of "The International Prize for the Promotion of Gandhi's Principles of Peace and Tolerance" to the Red Crescent.
This award is presented by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation of India to global figures who work to enhance the values of peace and tolerance.
The defense team confirmed that Al-Ghannouchi received the award in November 2016, in recognition of "his efforts throughout his life in promoting the values of tolerance, peace, and love, as the first Arab figure to receive this honor".
It mentioned that the prize amount exceeded $14,000, which Al-Ghannouchi donated to the Red Crescent "as support for its charitable and humanitarian activities inside and outside the country, in a ceremony attended by official figures and under significant media coverage".
The team also considered the ruling "concluded a judicial process marred by legal violations, and lack of observance of the most basic formalities of a fair trial".
It described it as a "flagrant violation of the most basic rules of a fair trial, confirming that the cases he was accused in are politically motivated, aimed at undermining his moral stature".
It is noted that Al-Ghannouchi has been detained since his arrest on April 17, 2023, by security forces after a raid on his house, before a court ordered his imprisonment on charges of "incitement against state security".
Several other prison sentences have been issued against Al-Ghannouchi in different cases, while he insists on not attending the courts, considering them to harbour "political reasons".
On more than one occasion, Tunisian President Kais Saied has stated that the judiciary system in his country is independent and he does not interfere in its operations, while the opposition accuses him of using the judiciary to pursue opponents who reject his extraordinary measures which began in July 2023.
These measures included dissolving the judiciary and representatives councils, issuing legislation by presidential orders, adopting a new constitution via a referendum, and conducting early legislative elections.
