Tunisia's highest court confirms 45-year sentences for opposition leaders

Tunisia’s highest court upheld prison sentences of up to 45 years for more than a dozen opposition leaders, lawyers, and businessmen on Thursday, finalizing convictions in a mass trial critics call politically motivated.

The case stems from a 2023 crackdown by President Kais Saied, who has consolidated power since 2021 by sidelining parliament, rewriting the constitution, and jailing prominent rivals. Prosecutors accused the defendants of plotting against state security, charges they deny, saying the trial was a sham to silence dissent. The sentences were handed down in February, and the court of cassation’s decision means they cannot be appealed.

Among those jailed are former government ministers, a billionaire media mogul, and a top lawyer, signaling Saied’s widening purge of perceived enemies. Human rights groups and the UN have condemned the proceedings, citing forced confessions and lack of evidence. Opposition figures say the rulings cement Tunisia’s slide from democracy to one-man rule.

The decision leaves little room for legal challenge, pushing dissent further underground. Analysts warn it could deepen Tunisia’s political and economic isolation, as Western allies and investors grow wary of Saied’s authoritarian turn. With elections due in October, the ruling sends a clear message: opposition will not be tolerated.