A Tunisian court has significantly extended the prison sentence of Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of the opposition Ennahdha party, to over 40 years. The ruling, delivered on Monday, upholds and substantially increases a previous 14-year sentence as part of the controversial “Conspiracy 2” case.
The case, which has drawn international criticism, accuses Ghannouchi and 20 other individuals of plotting against the state. All have been charged with conspiracy to undermine state authority under President Kais Saied. Following this latest ruling, ten of the accused remain incarcerated, while eleven have fled the country. Ghannouchi has declined to appeal the decision, stating he does not expect a fair trial and alleging the charges are politically motivated.
This development intensifies a years-long crackdown on dissent. Since President Saied suspended parliament and assumed sweeping powers in 2021, authorities have targeted opposition politicians, journalists, and civil society activists. The “Conspiracy 2” case is a central pillar of this campaign, framing legal opposition as a criminal threat to national security.
The sentences, now among the harshest imposed on senior opposition figures, underscore the shrinking space for political pluralism in Tunisia. Observers note the case relies on vague terrorism-related statutes and evidence widely regarded as fabricated. The European Union and human rights organizations have repeatedly called for the release of political prisoners and respect for judicial independence.
With Ghannouchi’s sentence effectively a life term given his age, the ruling eliminates a key figure from Tunisia’s political landscape. It signals the administration’s intent to permanently marginalize Ennahdha, a movement that has long alternated between participation in government and repression. The verdict will likely deepen Tunisia’s political isolation and raise questions about its democratic transition, which began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that Ghannouchi’s movement helped shape.
