A Tunisian court over the weekend handed down a 22‑year prison sentence in absentia to former President Moncef Marzouki, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, on charges of undermining state security, raising the opposition’s fears of an escalating crackdown against critics.
Marzouki, who was president from 2011 to 2014, accuses Saied of establishing an authoritarian regime after dismissing parliament and ruling by decree since he seized almost all powers in 2011.
Saied defends his actions as necessary steps to stabilise Tunisia.
This is the third ruling against Marzouki, after a court ruled last year to imprison him for eight years and four years before that in various other cases.
TUNISIA SENTENCES EX-PRESIDENT MARZOUKI TO 22 YEARS IN ABSENTIA
