The criminal chamber specializing in terrorism affairs with the Tunis court of first instance decided, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, to postpone Friday July 4 the continuation of the so -called “conspiracy against state security”. This dismissal will allow the lawyers for the accused to present their pleadings at the next hearing.
This sensitive file implies 42 people, some of whom are detained, others at freedom or on the run, pursued for serious facts of a terrorist nature. They are accused in particular of the constitution of an organization linked to terrorist acts, of incitement to murder, of domestic security of the State, attempted change of the regime by preparatory means, as well as enrollment or formation of people with a view to committing terrorist acts.
Among the 21 accused heard so far are several leading political figures, such as the president of the Ennahdha Rached Ghannouchi movement (currently detained in several cases), the former head of government Youssef Chahed (on the run), the former head of the presidential cabinet Nadia Akacha, but also Kamel Bedoui, Rayen Hamzaoui, Abdelkrim Laabidi Ellouze, Fethi Beldi, Mehrez Zouari, Mouadh Ghannouchi, Kamel Guizani, Lotfi Zitoun, Maher Zid, Mustapha Khedher, Adel Daadaa and Rafik Bouchlaka.
During the last hearing, the Chamber proceeded to the remote interrogation of several accused incarcerated in the Civil Prison of Mornaguia, including the former director general of specialized services at the Ministry of the Interior, Mehrez Zouari, the former chief of the planes protection brigade at Tunis-Carthage airport, Abdelkarim Laâbidi, the former Maire of Ezzahra Rayan Rayan Rayan Rayan Rayan Rayan Hamzaoui, as well as a retired security framework. On the other hand, accused Samir Hanachi refused to appear remotely.
Lawyers were present at the hearing, some with new proxies, others requesting an additional time to consult the documents in the file. These requests were rejected by the Chamber, which also refused all requests for release.
In September 2023, an investigating judge of the anti -terrorist judicial center, in charge of investigations on the affairs of “formation of a terrorist group” and “conspiracy against the security of the state”, had issued, within the framework of this case, international arrest warrants against 12 people, including Youssef Chahed, Nadia Akacha, Mouadh Ghannouchi, Kamel Guizani Khedher, Maher Zid and Lotfi Zitoun.
