A Tunisian court has sentenced former President Moncef Marzouki to 22 years in prison in absentia on charges of undermining state security, marking the latest in a series of legal actions against political opponents of President Kais Saied. Marzouki, who led the country from 2011 to 2014, has been an outspoken critic of Saied, accusing him of dismantling democratic institutions and imposing authoritarian rule since taking full control of government functions in 2021.
President Saied has defended his consolidation of power, including the dissolution of parliament and ruling by decree, as necessary measures to restore national stability. However, critics argue that these actions have led to a systematic crackdown on dissent and opposition voices.
The latest ruling adds to Marzouki’s legal troubles, following earlier court decisions that sentenced him to eight and four years in separate cases. Speaking from exile in Paris, Marzouki dismissed the court’s legitimacy, saying, “I say to these judges: your rulings are invalid, and you are invalid… you will be tried soon.” He reaffirmed his belief that democracy would eventually be restored in Tunisia.
Also on Friday, Sahbi Atig, a senior official from Ennahda, Tunisia’s main opposition party, received a 15-year prison sentence on money laundering charges, according to his legal representative. The sentence adds to a growing list of lengthy prison terms issued against prominent political figures.
In April, a Tunisian court handed down sentences of up to 66 years to several opposition leaders, lawyers, and business figures, citing conspiracy charges. The sweeping crackdown has led to the incarceration of nearly all major political leaders, including Abir Moussi of the Free Constitutional Party and Rached Ghannouchi, the head of Ennahda—both vocal critics of Saied’s administration.
The sentencing of opposition figures has sparked fears among rights groups and political observers of deepening authoritarianism in Tunisia, a country once hailed as a democratic success story after the Arab Spring.