TUNIS: A Tunisian court sentenced ex-President Moncef Marzouki to 8 years in prison in absentia on charges of attacking the state security and inciting Tunisians against each other, a judicial official stated.
Reuters reported this was the second sentence against the former President, who lives in France, after a judge sentenced him in 2021 to 4 years jail in absentia. Mohamed Zitouna, the spokesperson of the Tunis court stated that judgement was based on statements by former President Marzouki that included incitement in a speech he gave in France, without giving further information.
Tunisia Court Sentences Former President to Eight Years in Absentia
Former President Marzouki is a fierce critic of the current President Kais Saied. President Saied closed Parliament, dismissed the government and started ruling by decree in 2021, a measure that former President Marzouki and main opposition political leaders termed as a coup.
The Tunisian president has denied his acts were a coup and stated they were needed to save the country from years of chaos.
Many political leaders from the opposition parties were arrested since last year, including Rached Ghannouchi, and Abir Moussi.
The opposition parties accuse President Saied of muzzling the media and imposing authoritarian rule, and says his constitutional amendments have pulled apart the democracy. However, President Saied rejected those accusations and has called his critics traitors, criminals, and terrorists.
