A Tunisian court has sentenced former Prime Minister and opposition Ennahda party member Ali Larayedh to 34 years in prison. According to the lawyer representing Larayedh, who spoke to Reuters, he was found guilty of aiding the travel of jihadists to Syria over the past decade.
"I did not sympathize, I was not an accomplice, I was not neutral, and I was never lenient towards violence or terrorism," Larayedh told the judge.
The former prime minister has been in custody since 2022.
After the 2011 revolution, thousands of Tunisians traveled to Syria, Iraq, and Libya to join groups affiliated with the Islamic State and fight on their behalf. The Ennahda Islamist party faced harsh criticism for allegedly facilitating these journeys during its years in power.
The party strongly denies these accusations, insisting that the charges are politically motivated and part of the Tunisian authorities' campaign to suppress dissent.
At the end of March, a student was arrested in Tunisia for waving a Palestinian flag during a qualifying match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
