Tunisia - February 2026

On 2 February, a Tunis appeals court upheld or revised the sentences of more than 20 opposition figures, imposing prison ranging from three to 35 years. Among those affected was Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi, whose sentence was raised from 14 to 20 years. Opposition parties and human rights organizations criticized the ruling, arguing that the proceedings were marred by fair trial violations, including the use of remote hearings that limited defendants' communication with legal counsel and the prosecution's reliance on anonymous witness testimony. Observers also argued that the case reflected the continued use of the judiciary to target political opponents. On 15 February, authorities further intensified pressure on the opposition by detaining Olfa Hamdi, leader of the Third Republic party and a prominent government critic.

Sources: Amnesty International, Reuters