Tunisian court hands prison sentences of up to 66 years in mass trial of regime opponents
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Tunisia Court Hands Opposition Leaders Lengthy Prison Terms
Above: Protestors chant slogans during a demonstration in front of the court in Tunis, Tunisia, on April 11, 2025. Image copyright: Chedly Ben Ibrahim/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The charges are legitimate and necessary to protect national security, as the defendants were actively working with foreign powers to destabilize Tunisia and overthrow its legitimate government through terrorist activities and conspiracy against state security. Saied will continue fighting a corrupt elite and traitors.
Opposition narrative
This mass trial is a politically motivated crackdown on dissent, with arbitrary detentions and harsh sentences being used to silence opposition voices and systematically dismantle democratic institutions established after the 2011 revolution. The case has been fabricated and has become a symbol of Saied's authoritarian rule.