A court in Tunisia has sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahdha opposition party, to life in prison over terrorism-related charges.
The court in Tunis found Ghannouchi guilty in a case involving accusations of belonging to or leading a “secret apparatus” linked to the Ennahdha party, which authorities say operated as an underground security network.
The ruling was part of a wider trial involving more than 30 defendants, including former politicians, security officials, and party members.
Ghannouchi, a former speaker of Tunisia’s parliament, also reportedly received additional prison time alongside the life sentence, depending on the charges in the case.
His deputy and former prime minister Ali Larayedh was also sentenced to a long prison term, along with several other defendants who received varying sentences ranging from several years to life imprisonment.
The case dates back to investigations launched in 2022, which alleged that the Ennahdha party had created a covert structure connected to political assassinations in 2013.
However, the Ennahdha party has strongly denied the accusations, claiming the trial is politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition voices.
Ghannouchi has been detained since 2023 and has faced multiple legal cases in recent years, including allegations of corruption, illegal foreign funding, and links to terrorism.
The verdict marks one of the most significant legal actions against opposition figures in Tunisia in recent years and is expected to deepen political tensions in the country.