The son of prominent Tunisian opposition figure Ahmed Najib Chebbi has accused the Tunisian authorities of weaponizing the judiciary and security forces to intimidate dissent. Louai Chebbi, son of the National Salvation Front leader, asserted that his father’s recent conviction was a “political decision cloaked in judicial procedure.”
In an interview, Louai Chebbi described the trial as a “judicial charade,” emphasizing the prosecution’s alleged lack of concrete evidence. He stated that the charges against his father involve conspiracy against the internal and external security of the state with the aim of changing the regime. However, he claims there is no evidence of any seized materials or use of force, stating that the only evidence presented were “testimonies from two individuals whose identities remain unknown.”
Addressing the broader political climate, Chebbi’s son characterized Tunisia as experiencing a “counter-revolution,” arguing that President Kais Saied has “never been a defender of citizens’ rights.” He further alleged that Saied is “exploiting the social and economic conditions to consolidate power and imprison anyone who proposes alternatives to his policies.”
Louai Chebbi stated that heightened security presence around the family home began last week, escalating following the arrest of lawyer Ayachi Hammami. He detailed how police officers arrived at their residence and took his father directly to Mornaguia prison, where he has been held for the past two days.
Last week, an appeals court in Tunisia issued prison sentences of up to 45 years for opposition leaders, businessmen, and lawyers in a case known as the “conspiracy against state security.” These sentences have drawn criticism both domestically and internationally. While the court reduced Chebbi’s initial sentence from 18 to 12 years, it increased the sentences for other prominent figures, including Jawhar Ben Mbarek, Issam Chebbi, and Ghazi Chaouachi, to 20 years.
DZWatch will continue to monitor the situation in Tunisia and provide updates as they become available.
