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15-Year Prison Sentence Against Sahbi Atig: A Political Liquidation with a Judicial Facade

Tunis, June 20, 2025 – On Thursday evening, June 19, the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of Ariana issued a 15-year prison sentence against Ennahdha Movement leading member Sahbi Atig. The sentence was issued on charges related to “forming an alliance with the intent to launder money,” “exploiting one’s professional and social status,” “illegally holding foreign currency,” and “giving false testimony.” Two other defendants were also sentenced to the same prison terms, while a former governor was sentenced to two years in prison.

Case Background:

The case dates back to 2017, when investigations began following a testimony filed by one of the defendants in another case, in which Sahbi Atig was accused of leading a money laundering network through Libyan intermediaries. The defense team categorically denied the existence of any material evidence to support these allegations, claiming that the case lacks documentation and accounting data that could prove the facts. The case remained open for years without progress, before being reactivated as part of a systematic political score-settling after July 25, 2021, amidst a climate of continued repression against opposition figures and unionists.

The Tunisian Freedom Observatory believes that this case bears all the hallmarks of political manipulation, especially in the absence of serious evidence and investigation reports based on concrete facts. The resort to grave charges such as “money laundering” and “forming an alliance” against a prominent figure in the political opposition is a part of the pattern of persecuting opposition leaders in the absence of the most basic conditions for a fair trial. The Observatory recalls that Sahbi Atig has been in detention for over two years, with delays in considering his requests for provisional release, in clear violation of international standards.

The Tunisian Freedom Observatory demands:

  • The immediate release of Sahbi Atig and all defendants in this politically-motivated case;
  • Open an independent investigation into the background to the case and its reactivation after years of stagnation;
  • Respect international standards for fair trials and the presumption of innocence;
  • End the use of the judiciary to eliminate political opponents and intimidate dissenting voices;
  • Ensure the independence of judges and lift any political or security pressures that may be exerted on them.

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Call to Action

Website petition: Freedom for prisoners of conscience and activists in Tunisia!

Tunisia is no longer the Arab exception that inspired the world in 2011 with a heroic revolution that overthrew the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled for nearly 23 years after seizing power on November 7, 1987, in a coup against Habib Bourguiba.

In a similar and perhaps more dangerous move, on the night of July 25, 2021, Tunisian President Kais Saied carried out a “constitutional coup” in accordance with his personal interpretation of Article 80 of the 2014 Revolutionary Constitution, announcing that he had taken a set of exceptional measures due to the “imminent danger” that threatens Tunisia without providing any details or reasons.

In accordance with these measures, Saied dismissed the government and the prime minister Hichem Mechichi who was present at the National Security Council that night at the Carthage Palace, and claimed that he had contacted the Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi (leader of the Ennahdha party) to consult with him in accordance with what is stipulated by the constitution, a claim which Ghannouchi denied since the call was general and did not include anything about exceptional measures or any consultation on the matter. The president suspended Parliament and later dissolved it in March 2022.

Not only did Saied seek to bypass his powers and the articles of the Constitution, which he swore to protect before the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, but he went on to dismiss and change the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council after redefining the judiciary it as a “function” rather than an independent authority. He further replaced members of the Supreme Electoral Commission in preparation for the referendum he held in order to vote on a constitution that he wrote himself after dismissing the proposals of the drafting committee he had himself appointed. Then legislative elections were held over two rounds, in which the participation rate did not exceed 8% of the total number of voters, with the Election Commission later announcing that it had reached 11%, which is the lowest participation rate in Tunisia and globally.

On February 11, President Saied’s regime launched a campaign of protests that has not stopped since, against political leaders, media figures, journalists, judges and senior officials and civil servants, for charges of “conspiring against the security of the state and committing an offensive act against the President of the Republic,” in addition to other charges that were referred to the military prosecution, leading one to wonder about the implication of the Tunisian army in the actions taken by Saied.

The arbitrary arrests were marred by several procedural violations amid criticism from prominent international organizations and observatories in the field of human rights. The standards of litigation and detention period and conditions were not respected. Prosecution and harassment sometimes extended to the detainees’ families, and no evidence, and in many cases, no charges against them were presented.

Moreover trade unions and political parties continue to be subjected to constant harassment and restrictions. Saied continues to target all “intermediary bodies” accusing them of “collaboration” or “treason”. Civil society associations have also been subjected to prosecution, arbitrary arrests and deprivation from representation, in a context of of increasing violence in society due to the authorities’ adoption of racist and discriminatory speeches and rhetoric inciting infighting and violating human dignity.

In light of the above, we, the undersigned, demand the following:

Call for the immediate release of all political detainees, immediately and unconditionally. We also urge the Tunisian authorities to recognize the national and the international human rights treaties they have ratified.
Call on the Tunisian authorities to stop dismantling the nascent democracy and put an end to unfair trials and prosecutions against political opponents of the regime and anyone who criticises it.
Call on all activists and observers to join the national movement for restoring democracy and ending authoritarian rule that has taken Tunisia back to despotism, injustice, and violations of rights and freedoms.