• Rached Ghannouchi sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiracy against state security.
• The trial has been criticized as politically motivated by human rights organizations.
• Several other political figures received 12-year sentences in conjunction with Ghannouchi's case.
• Ghannouchi's defense team claims the trial lacked fairness and credibility.
• This case follows President Kais Saied's significant consolidation of power since 2021.

A Tunisian court sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the opposition Ennahda movement, to 14 years in prison on July 8, 2025, as part of a sweeping case against several politicians accused of conspiracy against state security. Alongside Ghannouchi, other members received sentences of up to 12 years, including former officials from various governmental positions, according to Le Monde and AA.

This case has drawn significant criticism from human rights organizations, which label the proceedings as "politically motivated". Many believe that the actions taken against Ghannouchi are part of a broader strategy by President Kais Saied to silence opposition voices since instituting a series of exceptional measures in 2021. Previous verdicts have similarly sparked backlash, with concerns regarding the fairness of trials, as noted by Africanews and AA.

Ghannouchi, 86, and his defense argue that the charges were partly based on dubious evidence, including testimony from anonymous witnesses, which they maintain compromised the integrity of the trial. "All accusations were based on a false and contradictory testimony," his attorneys said, underscoring their commitment to challenging the verdict, according to Le Monde and Africanews.