A Tunisian court specializing in terrorism cases ruled on Monday in absentia to imprison former minister Monder Zenaidi for 19 years with immediate effect in cases related to "conspiring against state security and forming a terrorist group", according to Reuters.
Zenaidi, who previously held ministerial positions in governments before 2011, is one of the most prominent political figures opposed to President Kais Saied.
According to judicial sources, the cases in which Zenaidi was tried fall under what is known in the media as "conspiracy against state security" files, which include accusations of coordinating with internal and external parties to destabilize the stability, in addition to engaging in organizations classified by the authorities as having a terrorist nature.
This ruling comes in the context of a widespread judicial campaign targeting opposition politicians, lawyers, and activists, since 2023, amid the political crisis that Tunisia has been experiencing since President Saied announced exceptional measures on July 25, 2021, which included the dissolution of the parliament and an expansion of presidential powers.
The Tunisian authorities assert that these cases are purely criminal, and that the judiciary operates with complete independence, while opposition forces and human rights organizations view the trials as politically motivated and aimed at silencing opponents.
Tunisian courts have issued over the past months harsh prison sentences against a number of opposition figures, ranging between 10 and 45 years, in similar cases, which has sparked local and international human rights criticism.
