In a message published around midnight on social networks, Me Dalila Ben Mbarek Msaddek, member of the Defense Committee, expressed his indignation in the face of heavy convictions pronounced on April 18, 2025 in the so -called “conspiracy against state security”.
40 people were sentenced by the criminal chamber specialized to sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years in prison, after a hearing qualified as “expeditious” and “vitiated”.
The Committee states that the court withdrew to deliberate barely 30 seconds after rejecting the requests for adjournment and radiation, without hearing either the accused present or the lawyers.
Such a procedure, under the terms of the press release, “constitutes a total negation of the right to a fair trial” and reveals a manifest will to “gag the defense”.
Among the convicted people are several political and public figures: Issam Chebbi, Ghazi Chaouachi, Jawhar Ben Mbarek, Bochra Belhaj Hmida, Chaima Issa, Kamel Letaief, Abdelhamid Jelassi, as well as the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy.
Also according to the press release, the charges – ranging from conspiracy against state security to belonging to a terrorist organization – would be based on “fabricated accusations”, anonymous testimonies and disputed documents.
The Committee also criticizes the use of videoconferencing, imposed on the pretext of security, which would have prevented the accused from questioning the witnesses or of presenting their defense in a contradictory manner.
He also denounces the exclusion of the public, families and the media from the courtroom, as well as the pressures exerted on lawyers, including the Bâtonnier of the Order.
Can we still read in the press release, the criminal chamber “no longer has any legitimacy to rule”, the case having been brought before the Court of Cassation.
Finally, the Defense Committee calls on the components of civil society to reject this “legal masquerade” and to defend fundamental freedoms, the rights of the defense and the image of Tunisian justice.
