A Tunisian court has handed down lengthy prison terms to 40 opposition members in a highly contested case widely known as the “Conspiracy Case.” Sentences range from 13 to 66 years, with charges including “conspiracy against state security” and involvement in a terrorist group, under Tunisia’s counterterrorism and criminal laws.
The Attorney General told state news agency Tunis Afrique Presse that while some of the convicted individuals are in custody, others remain fugitives.
The case stems from a wave of arrests launched in February 2023, targeting a wide swath of opposition figures and activists. Among those detained were political figure Mohamed Khayyam Al-Turki, businessman Kamal Bin Youssef, former Ennahda party leader Abdelhamid Jelassi, Mosaique FM CEO Noureddine Boutar, members of the Citizens Against the Coup movement, and former diplomat Khayam Turki.
On the eve of the court ruling, President Kais Saied met with Justice Minister Layla Javal and commented on the case, asserting that individuals linked to the matter should not evade accountability, stating: “The evidence is clear—it is not just circumstantial.”
Leaked witness testimonies alleged that Bin Youssef had conspired to overthrow the government and had coordinated with foreign diplomats in a bid to oust President Saied.
The trial proceedings, which began on March 4, 2025, included three virtual hearings under Article 73 of Tunisia’s counterterrorism legislation. Defendants who were not in custody were tried in absentia, as permitted under Section 141 of the criminal code.
Critics have sharply questioned the fairness of the trial. Defense lawyer Ahmed Souab labeled the case “a procedural farce,” warning it could push Tunisia closer to a constitutional crisis. The Ennahda Movement condemned the proceedings as a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent.
Protests erupted outside the court on Friday, as the final hearing took place without public or media access. Opposition leader Ahmed Chebbi, head of the National Salvation Front, criticized the process for lacking transparency and excluding international observers.
One day later, Kamal Bin Youssef received the heaviest sentence—66 years in prison.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have denounced the trial as a “sham,” calling for the immediate release of those detained. Meanwhile, defense attorney Messauodi Abdessatar has indicated that an appeal to the Court of Cassation is likely, though a decision could take over a month.
The case unfolds against a backdrop of escalating political tensions following President Saied’s controversial power grab during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite widespread criticism, he was re-elected in October 2024. Civil society organizations continue to raise alarms over the use of arbitrary detention to stifle political opposition in Tunisia.