Tunisian court sentences Ghannouchi to life and 30 years

A Tunisian court has sentenced opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi to life imprisonment plus an additional 30 years on terrorism-related charges. The verdict, delivered Tuesday by the Tunis Court of First Instance, is part of a broader case involving dozens of defendants from the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha movement.

The court found Ghannouchi and other defendants guilty of forming a terrorist organization, providing support to individuals linked to terrorist crimes, and other offenses under the country's counter-terrorism law. Among those convicted was Ali Laarayedh, a former prime minister and senior Ennahdha figure, who received a 42-year prison sentence. Other defendants received sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment, with some facing cumulative prison terms amounting to several decades.

The case, often referred to in media reports as the "secret apparatus" case, was opened in 2022. Authorities investigated allegations that an Ennahdha-linked network operated outside official state structures, infiltrated institutions, spied on opponents, and maintained links to extremist groups. The investigation followed accusations from lawyers representing the families of...