Mass Trial of Tunisian Opposition Figures Begins Amidst Allegations of Political Motives

The trial involves 40 defendants, including prominent critics of President Kais Saied, with rights groups condemning the proceedings as unjust and politically driven.

• The trial accuses 40 individuals, including politicians, activists, lawyers, and journalists, of conspiring against state security and terrorism, with some facing potential death penalties if convicted.
• Rights groups and defense lawyers have denounced the trial as politically motivated, labeling it a crackdown on opposition voices critical of President Kais Saied's government.
• Several defendants have been held in pretrial detention for over two years, exceeding legal limits, while others have fled abroad to avoid prosecution.
• Defendants detained for the trial were barred from attending in person, appearing via videoconference instead, a move criticized as undermining fair trial rights.
• The case follows broader concerns about Tunisia's rollback of democratic freedoms since Saied's 2021 power grab, which included dissolving parliament and consolidating executive authority.

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