TUNIS, Tunisia – A Tunisian court has sentenced former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh to 34 years in prison, accusing him of facilitating the departure of jihadists to Syria over the past decade.
Larayedh, a prominent figure in the opposition Ennahda party, was convicted on charges linked to the recruitment and movement of jihadist fighters during his tenure as prime minister from 2013 to 2014.
Larayedh’s lawyer confirmed the ruling on Friday, highlighting that the sentence reflects the severity of the accusations against the former leader.
The Ennahda party, which has been a vocal opponent of President Kais Saied’s administration, strongly denies the charges, labeling them politically motivated.
The case has sparked renewed tensions between the government and opposition parties.
This ruling follows a broader crackdown on dissent in Tunisia, which has seen several opposition figures, including prominent lawyer Ahmed Souab, detained in recent weeks.
Human rights organizations have condemned the escalating judicial actions against critics of Saied’s government, with many viewing the sentences as a dangerous step toward further political repression.
Larayedh, who has been in detention since 2022, denied any involvement in facilitating terrorism or violence.
“I was neither sympathetic, nor complicit, nor neutral, nor lenient toward violence, terrorism,” he told the judge during the proceedings.
Ennahda has faced ongoing scrutiny for its alleged role in the movement of Tunisian nationals to conflict zones such as Syria, Iraq, and Libya following the 2011 revolution.
While the party has denied any wrongdoing, the accusations persist as part of a broader political and ideological battle between Saied’s administration and the opposition.
