Former President Marzouki of Tunisia is sentenced to 22 years in absentia

Former President Moncef Marzouki, a harsh opponent of President Kais Saied, was sentenced to 22 years in prison in absentia by a Tunisian court on Friday for allegedly damaging state security, which heightened opposition concerns of a more severe crackdown against opponents.

Marzouki, the president from 2011 to 2014, charges Saied with forming an authoritarian government by dissolving parliament and governing by decree after seizing nearly all of the country’s powers in 2011.

Saied argues that his measures were required to stabilize Tunisia.

In a series of other cases, a court last year sentenced Marzouki to eight years in prison, and this is the third decision against him.

“From his exile in Paris, I say to these judges: your rulings are invalid, and you are invalid… you will be tried soon,” Marzouki said in response to the decision.

He also said, “Democracy will return.”

According to his attorney, Sahbi Atig, a top figure in Ennahda, the nation’s major opposition party, was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier Friday by a different court on charges of money laundering.

The 15-year term was less than some recent sentencing guidelines. A court in April found several opposition leaders, businessmen, and attorneys guilty of conspiracy and sentenced them to prison terms of up to 66 years.

Saied’s most notable opponents, Abir Moussi of the Free Constitutional Party and Rached Ghannouchi of Ennahda, are among the majority of Tunisia’s political party leaders who are incarcerated.