Summary:

On May 15, the Chamber of Misdemeanors in Terrorism Cases of the Court of First Instance in Tunis issued a one-year prison sentence to Ennahdha Party leader Rachid Ghannouchi and a 1,000 dinar ($325) fine. Ghannouchi was sentenced based on “statements attributed to him that incite state security.”

The case originated following a complaint from a police unionist about a speech Ghannouchi gave last year eulogizing a member of the Ennahda movement, in which he called the security forces tawaghit, which can be translated as miscreant or infidel.

Ghannouchi had also made reference to a “civil war” in Tunisia as the crackdown on opposition figures has continued, which likely also contributed to the case against him for conspiring against the state.

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And last week on 9 May, while in custody in Tunis, a First Instance Court in Sousse issued a warrant for questioning for Ghannouchi. This separate warrant relates to the case of suspicious financial transactions with a digital content production company, Instalingo, which has plagued Ghannouchi and other Ennahdha officials for months.

This case dates back to June 2022, when a Public Prosecutor ordered the opening of an investigation against 28 people, including Ghannouchi, on suspicion of money laundering. The court eventually issued a decision banning him from traveling and charging 47 others with “money laundering, concluding a criminal agreement, disturbing social peace, planning an attack aimed at changing the form of government, and plotting against state security,” according to local media outlets.

Outlook:  

Ghannouchi’s arrest has raised international concerns, including the European Union, the United States, and human rights organizations, which have expressed concern for Tunisia’s democratic future. While Ghannouchi is considered a hero by some and notorious by others in Tunisia, he has become an international symbol for democratic Islamism, particularly given the large role Ennahdha played in post-revolution Tunisia.

While awaiting the issuance of the final verdict in the Instalingo case, street protests may occur as Ghannouchi’s supporters rally against the verdict and potential future legal actions.

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