In a development stirring controversy and concern across Tunisia and beyond, former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has been sentenced to 34 years in prison after being found guilty of facilitating the travel of jihadist fighters to Syria during his tenure in office. The ruling, announced by a Tunisian court, has sparked sharp criticism from political observers and human rights organizations who see the move as part of a broader campaign to crush opposition voices in the country.
Larayedh, a prominent leader of the Islamist-oriented Ennahda party, served as Tunisia’s Prime Minister from 2013 to 2014. He was previously the country’s Minister of the Interior following the 2011 revolution that ousted long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Despite his long political career, Larayedh and his party have consistently denied any involvement in or support for terrorism.
Speaking through his legal team, Larayedh condemned the verdict as unjust and politically motivated. “This is not a legal judgment; it is a political decision dressed in judicial robes,” said his lawyer, Samir Dilou, who is also a former minister. “There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Larayedh to the facilitation of any terrorist activity. This is a clear attempt to eliminate political opponents under the guise of justice.”
The case centers around accusations that Larayedh and other members of the Ennahda party turned a blind eye—or even encouraged—the departure of young Tunisians to conflict zones in Syria during the early 2010s, a period when thousands from across North Africa were joining extremist groups such as ISIS and Al-Nusra Front. The Tunisian government claims that Larayedh’s policies as Interior Minister and Prime Minister created an environment that allowed radical recruitment and foreign fighter movements to thrive.
The Ennahda party, once the most powerful political force in post-revolution Tunisia, has rejected the allegations and slammed the verdict as an attack on democratic institutions.
“This sentence is outrageous and baseless,” Ennahda said in a statement following the court decision. “It is a continuation of the campaign led by the current regime to dismantle Tunisia’s political opposition and silence dissent. We affirm that Ali Larayedh has always acted within the framework of the law and has no ties to terrorism.”
The ruling comes amid an escalating crackdown on political figures, journalists, lawyers, and civil society activists under President Kaïs Saïed, who in 2021 assumed sweeping powers after dissolving parliament, dismissing the government, and rewriting the constitution in a controversial power grab that critics have described as authoritarian.
Human rights groups, both local and international, have expressed deep concern over what they describe as the systematic erosion of judicial independence in Tunisia. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused the Saïed administration of using the judiciary as a tool to repress political opposition and intimidate critics.
“The sentencing of Ali Larayedh fits into a disturbing pattern of politically motivated prosecutions,” said Eric Goldstein, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The Tunisian judiciary is being used not to serve justice, but to crush those who dare to challenge the president’s authority.”
Larayedh is not the only senior Ennahda figure facing legal troubles. Rached Ghannouchi, the party’s longtime leader and former speaker of parliament, was arrested in 2023 and is also facing a series of charges that Ennahda says are politically motivated. The arrests and prosecutions have effectively paralyzed the party, which once commanded significant influence in Tunisia’s post-revolution democratic transition.
President Saïed has defended his actions as necessary to cleanse the political system of corruption and extremism. Speaking during a recent address, he said: “We are restoring the sovereignty of the people and protecting Tunisia from those who would betray it. The law will take its course, regardless of name or position.”
However, many Tunisians and international observers argue that Saïed’s purge of opponents has little to do with justice and everything to do with consolidating power.
“This is about eliminating any opposition,” said Tunis-based political analyst Youssef Cherif. “The charges against Larayedh may have some historical background, but the timing, the severity of the sentence, and the broader context suggest this is a political maneuver aimed at silencing one of the last remaining threats to the president’s authority.”
The conviction of Larayedh is likely to further strain Tunisia’s already fragile political landscape. Once held up as a model of democratic transition in the Arab world, Tunisia is now facing growing unrest, economic turmoil, and widespread disillusionment among its youth.
International reactions to the verdict have been cautious but concerned. While few foreign governments have commented directly on Larayedh’s case, several Western diplomats have reiterated the importance of due process and judicial independence in Tunisia’s path forward.
“The international community must not turn a blind eye to what is happening in Tunisia,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. “A country that once inspired the region with its democratic aspirations is now becoming a cautionary tale of democratic backsliding.”
As for Ali Larayedh, his future appears grim. Barring a successful appeal or international pressure, the 68-year-old former prime minister faces spending the rest of his life behind bars. His supporters, however, vow to continue the fight for his release and for the restoration of democracy in Tunisia.
“Today it is Ali Larayedh,” said one Ennahda supporter outside the courthouse. “Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to speak out. This is not just about one man. It is about the future of our country.”
