The criminal chamber specializing in terrorism affairs with the Tunis court of first instance made its highly anticipated verdict in the so -called “conspiracy against state security 2 on Tuesday”, pronouncing sentences ranging from 12 to 35 years in prison against several political and security figures.
Among the accused in detention, Mahrez Zouari, Abdelkarim Laabidi, Habib Ellouze and Rayen Hamzaoui, all judged from their cell, were sentenced to 12 years in prison. The historic chief of the Ennahdha movement, Rached Ghannouchi, who refused to appear by boycotting the courts and the investigating judges, received 14 years in prison.
The fascia, tried in absentia, were sentenced to 35 years in prison, the heaviest sentence. Among them are Nadia Akacha (former head of the presidential cabinet), MoEz Ghannouchi, Adel Daadaa and Rafik Bouchlaka, all prosecuted for the prevailing of state security.
Note that the former head of government Youssef Chahed, also affected by this case, was not tried at this stage. He introduced an appeal to the cassation against the decision to refer to the criminal chamber, and awaits the outcome of this appeal.
