The defence team of Rached Ghannouchi, head of Tunisia’s Ennahda Movement, described his life sentence in the case known as the “secret apparatus” case as “shocking and unjust,” following a Tunisian court ruling against several leaders of Ennahda Movement.
In a statement issued after Tuesday’s verdict, the defence team said Ghannouchi, the former speaker of parliament, has now been sentenced to life imprisonment in addition to a cumulative 106 years in prison in other cases.
The lawyers stated that these cases are linked to Ghannouchi’s political positions, opinions, and exercise of freedom of expression.
The defence team said it would continue pursuing all available legal avenues to defend its client and challenge the ruling.
The lawyers argued that the case was politically motivated, noting that the original complaint was filed by members of a rival political party rather than the public prosecutor.
“This confirms that the case is politically motivated and that the trial is a trial of a political ideology opposed to the complainants.”
According to the defence team, the accusations against Ghannouchi and the other defendants lack a factual basis.
The statement also noted that one of the complainants had publicly stated in 2018 that Ennahda and its leaders were not responsible for the political assassinations that have long been linked to the case. The defence said subsequent court rulings had likewise found no evidence connecting the movement to those crimes.
There was no immediate response from Tunisian authorities to the defence team’s statement. Tunisian officials have consistently maintained that individuals currently detained are being prosecuted on criminal charges, including offenses related to state security and corruption, and reject accusations that the prosecutions are politically motivated.
The National Salvation Front also criticised the verdicts, warning that they could deepen political polarisation and discourage public participation in political life.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Front said “While ostensibly targeting specific individuals, these verdicts reinforce a climate of fear and apathy toward political participation”.
The opposition coalition called for a comprehensive national dialogue, restoration of confidence in public institutions, and full guarantees for judicial independence and fair trial standards.
The case has become one of the most prominent legal and political proceedings involving Ennahda leaders since Tunisia’s political crisis and the consolidation of power by President Kais Saied.
