Fri May 02 22:57:57 UTC 2025: ## Tunisian Ex-Prime Minister Sentenced to 34 Years in Prison Amidst Crackdown on Opposition

**Tunis, Tunisia** – Former Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has been sentenced to 34 years in prison on charges of facilitating the departure of fighters to Syria. The verdict, handed down by a Tunisian court, has been met with fierce condemnation from Larayedh and his Ennahdha party, a major opposition force, who denounce the trial as politically motivated.

Larayedh, who served as prime minister from 2013 to 2014 and has been in detention since 2022, vehemently denies the charges. He declared his innocence, stating he was neither complicit nor lenient towards terrorism. The Ennahdha party echoes his denial, arguing the case is part of a broader government campaign to silence dissent.

This sentencing follows a week of intensified crackdowns on opposition figures, including the arrest of prominent Saied critic Ahmed Souab and the imprisonment of several other political opponents, media figures, and businesspeople on various conspiracy charges. Eight individuals received sentences ranging from 18 to 36 years.

The government insists the judiciary is independent, rejecting accusations of political interference. However, human rights groups express deep concern, viewing the crackdown as a dangerous escalation and a significant rollback of democratic gains made since the 2011 revolution. They point to the jailing of Souab and others as evidence of this alarming trend.

These developments have fueled further protests against President Kais Saied, with demonstrators taking to the streets of Tunis on Thursday to denounce his rule and accuse him of authoritarianism. Protesters chanted slogans echoing those of the 2011 uprising that ousted former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Counter-protests supporting Saied also took place.

The ongoing conflict highlights a deep political divide in Tunisia, raising serious questions about the future of democracy in the country that was once hailed as a beacon of hope following the Arab Spring. The opposition accuses Saied of undermining democratic institutions after he seized sweeping powers in 2021, suspending parliament and assuming control of the judiciary.

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