Ali Laarayedh
Source: Africa Publicity
A former Tunisian Prime Minister, Ali Laarayedh, has been jailed 34 years on terrorism charges in his home country.
Laarayedh, aged 69, is a prominent opponent of President Kais Saied and leader of Ennadha, a moderate Islamist party that holds the largest representation in the Tunisian Parliament.
Along with seven other people, Laarayedh was charged with setting up a terrorist cell and helping young Tunisians travel abroad to join Islamist fighters in Iraq and Syria.
In April this year as the AFP reported, Laarayedh wrote to the court’s prosecutor, saying: “I am not a criminal… I am a victim in this case.”
But despite his plea, he was sentenced to 34 years in prison on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Prior to his sentencing, he said the case against him was politically motivated.
In recent weeks, at least 40 critics of Tunisia’s president have been sent to prison – including diplomats, lawyers and journalists, the BBC reports.