A mass trial of approximately 40 prominent opposition figures commenced on Tuesday in Tunisia, sparking widespread outrage among rights groups, relatives, and political activists. The trial, which includes diplomats, politicians, journalists, and lawyers critical of President Kaïs Saïed, has drawn accusations of being politically motivated. Defendants are facing severe charges, including “plotting against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group,” with some potentially facing the death penalty if convicted.
The list of those on trial includes high-profile figures such as former presidential chief of staff Nadia Akacha, ex-leader of the Ennahda opposition party Abdelhamid Jelassi, and Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, a prominent critic of Saïed’s 2021 consolidation of power. Some defendants, like Akacha, are being tried in absentia after fleeing the country. Many others have been detained for over two years, with Saïed publicly labeling them as “terrorists.”
Human Rights Watch has strongly condemned the trial, calling it a “mockery of justice” built on “abusive charges.” The United Nations also expressed concern, urging Tunisian authorities to end “all forms of persecution” against political opponents. However, Tunisia’s foreign ministry responded with disdain, criticizing the UN’s statement as inaccurate and asserting that Tunisia could offer lessons to the international community on governance.
The trial is widely seen as part of President Saïed’s increasingly authoritarian grip on power. Since he dissolved parliament in 2021 and assumed broad executive control, Saïed has rewritten the country’s constitution to concentrate power in his hands, sidelining opposition voices and critics.
Defense lawyers attending the trial voiced concerns about their lack of access to case files, calling the proceedings a farce. Lawyer Abdelaziz Essid, representing one of the accused, implored the judges to “put an end to this madness and absurdity” in a passionate plea.
As the trial began, crowds of outraged Tunisian activists gathered outside the courtroom in the capital, Tunis, carrying banners with slogans such as, “No to remote trials,” “No to a judiciary that does not guarantee rights,” and “Freedom for political detainees.”
The case has also brought attention to the erosion of judicial independence in Tunisia, which has seen Saïed’s consolidation of power over the years, resulting in the politicization of the country’s legal system. Campaigners argue that the trial is emblematic of a broader crackdown on political dissent and a further step toward authoritarian rule.
This high-profile trial has been described by many, including Bassam Trifi, the head of the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights, as “one of the darkest injustices in Tunisia’s history.” As the country grapples with its political future, the trial remains a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle for democratic freedoms.
