Former Tunisian Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri is in jail As part of the latest crackdown on the opposition, for 20 years
The court has sentenced former minister Noureddine Bhiri in connection with passport fraud allegations, drawing increasing criticism regarding the political repression in Tunisia.
A Tunisian court has imposed a 20-year prison sentence on former Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri, a prominent member of the opposition Ennahda movement, due to allegations concerning the issuance of passports and citizenship documents to foreign nationals purportedly sought in terrorism-related cases.
Tunisian state media reports that the case revolves around allegations of fraudulent documents being issued during Bhiri’s time as justice minister in 2012. The court ruling signifies a notable advancement in a case that has garnered considerable political focus within the nation.
Bhiri and his legal team have refuted all allegations, asserting that the prosecution is driven by political motives.
The ex-minister is currently serving a distinct 43-year sentence that was imposed last year in a case characterized by authorities as “conspiracy against state security.” The conviction formed a component of a wider array of prosecutions aimed at opposition figures in Tunisia over recent years.
The recent ruling arrives in the context of increasing criticism from global human rights organizations, which have cautioned about a deepening suppression of dissent under President Kais Saied.
Following President Saied’s dissolution of parliament and the expansion of his executive powers in 2021, numerous politicians, journalists, lawyers, and activists have faced arrest or prosecution. Critics argue that this trend indicates a diminishing space for political opposition and free expression.
Tunisia, once celebrated as the sole democratic success of the Arab Spring, has recently encountered increasing worries regarding judicial independence and civil liberties, with opposition leaders facing extended prison sentences in politically charged cases.
