The specialized criminal chamber of the Court of Appeal of Tunis finally decided to postpone the second hearing of the so-called “plot against state security 1” trial to the session of November 27, instead of the course scheduled for Monday, November 17.
This postponement aims to give lawyers more time to prepare their defenses and to examine the numerous requests already filed.
During a previous first instance hearing, in April 2025, 37 people were sentenced to sentences ranging from 4 to 66 years in prison, for serious charges such as conspiracy against the internal and external security of the State, formation and membership in a terrorist conspiracy, or even acts of a terrorist nature.
The defense had insisted that the defendants left at large be summoned in person, and contested the continuation of the remote trial for the detained defendants.
During the initial postponement at the end of October, these arguments were recognized, justifying the new summons.
Why this postponement?
According to judicial sources, the defense requested additional time to prepare its pleadings, examine the documents in the case in detail, present requests for release, and argue against holding the trial by videoconference.
The Court of Appeal accepted these requests in order to guarantee better respect for the rights of the defense, thus allowing all defendants, including those at liberty, to be heard.
This case is particularly sensitive: it concerns accusations of terrorism and state conspiracy, with very heavy sentences handed down during the first instance.
The defense has denounced from the start a series of irregularities, particularly in the remote hearing procedure, which it considers to be a weakening of judicial transparency and the fundamental guarantees of the accused.
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