Tunisia: Rached Ghannouchi sentenced to 22 years in prison for “undermining state security”
On Wednesday, several Tunisian political figures, including Rached Ghannouchi, the imprisoned Islamist leader and former Speaker of Parliament, as well as journalists, were handed heavy prison sentences for “undermining state security,” according to lawyers who spoke to AFP.
Ghannouchi, who had already been convicted in other cases, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi received a 35-year prison sentence, according to the lawyers. Journalists Chahrazed Akacha and Chadha Hadj Mbarek were sentenced to 27 years and 5 years in prison, respectively.
The case, known as “Instalingo,” named after a company specializing in digital content production, has been denounced as politically motivated by several of the accused.
The company has been under investigation since 2021, suspected of plotting “against state security.”
In total, around fifty people were tried, including former Interior Ministry spokesperson Mohammed-Ali Aroui and Ennahdha movement leader Seyed Ferjani. Aroui was sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Ferjani received a 13-year sentence.
Rached Ghannouchi refused to appear before the court, denouncing “the absence of an independent judiciary,” according to his lawyers. He was absent from Tuesday’s hearing, as observed by an AFP journalist.
