THE AFRICA TIMES | TUNISIA —
Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, a prominent Tunisian opposition figure, was arrested at his residence on Thursday. This occurred a week after an appeals court sentenced the 81-year-old politician to 12 years imprisonment. Amnesty International has condemned the arrest.
Chebbi’s Arrest and Sentencing
The organization views it as part of a wider campaign of “blind repression” by Tunisian authorities. Chebbi has been involved in Tunisian politics for decades. He is a long-time left-wing opposition leader.
Chebbi previously ran for president and helped establish the National Salvation Front (FSN). The FSN is the primary opposition coalition in Tunisia. Following the 2011 revolution, which ousted Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, he briefly served as a government minister. He also sat in the Constituent Assembly during the democratic transition.
Family Confirmation and Chebbi’s Statement
His daughter, lawyer Haïfa Chebbi, confirmed that her father had been taken to Mornaguia prison, near Tunis. She indicated their house had been monitored for days. Monitoring included police cars and plain-clothes officers.
In a video recorded before his arrest, Chebbi stated he was going to prison “with a clear and pure conscience.” He believes he has “committed no wrongdoing.” His daughter reports he has “no hope” in Tunisia’s justice system. However, he believes President Kais Saied’s crackdown has united the opposition.
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Chebbi was tried alongside about 40 other opponents. The case involved accusations of “plotting against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group.” His initial sentence was reduced from 18 to 12 years upon appeal. His arrest follows the arrests of two other opposition figures. Lawyer Ayachi Hammami and activist Chaïma Issa received sentences of five and twenty years, respectively, in the same case.
International Condemnation
Human rights organizations have strongly criticized the Tunisian government’s actions. Sara Hashash from Amnesty International, said the arrests demonstrated the authorities’ “terrifying determination to silence peaceful opposition.” Ahmed Benchemsi of Human Rights Watch suggested Tunisia’s brief democratic hope “has officially closed.” He added that almost the entire political opposition is now imprisoned or in exile. This situation arises fifteen years after the 2011 revolution.
Since President Saied’s 2021 power grab, NGOs have observed a decline in rights and freedoms. Dozens of critics have been detained. They include politicians, journalists, lawyers, and aid workers. They face charges of conspiracy or spreading false information.
