Tunisia's Court of Cassation Upholds Sentences in State Security Case
2 sources across 2 countries · France · Qatar · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- France 24
- Al Jazeera
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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Tunisia's Court of Cassation rejected a final appeal on Thursday, confirming heavy prison sentences for approximately 40 people accused of plotting against the security of the state. The defendants include opposition figures, lawyers, businessmen, and human rights defenders. Some individuals received sentences as high as 45 years, while others, including National Salvation Front leader Najib Chebbi, received 12 years. Several defendants were sentenced in absentia after fleeing the country.
President Kais Saied has described the accused as traitors and terrorists, while the justice minister stated that the defendants sought to destabilize the country. Conversely, legal representatives for the defendants and family members claim the judiciary is not independent and that the case was designed to silence political opponents. Lawyers also alleged they were given insufficient time to prepare a defense for the hearing.
Center lean sources reported the event as a confirmation of sentences in a plot against the state. A center left source framed the ruling as evidence of democratic backsliding under President Saied, noting that the president has previously dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed numerous judges.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- This source framed the event as a sign of democratic backsliding and highlighted the lack of judicial independence.
- Centre
- These sources focused on the legal outcome and the confirmation of the sentences without adding political context.
Sources
- Centre-left Al Jazeera: Tunisia’s top court upholds conviction of opposition figures, activists
- Centre France 24: Tunisia: the Court of Cassation confirms heavy sentences in the "plot against the State" case
- Centre France 24: Tunisia: the Court of Cassation confirms heavy sentences in the "plot against the State" case
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.